Everything that I wrote I dedicate to our son – Artur – as a guide for life.
I am sharing with you son, what I have achieved.

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz – dad

***

IN EVERYTHING YOU DO – FIND YOUR OWN PATH TO HAPPINESS

Each of us has our own individual path. We can learn from each other, and our paths may even be similar, but they will never be the same.

This is what I devote my 3rd book to, which is to help answer this question. This work will be devoted to the subject of personal coaching.

I will create it systematically and it will be based on entries from my blog. I myself had many questions and few answers myself in my time. I couldn’t find them. Maybe this book will help someone and make it easier to find the answer?

It will be based on my personal experiences. I’m 50 in a few months, so I already know a little bit about life. I am still learning a lot, but I am happy to share what I already know. Of course, this is my personal view of the world. I do not believe that it is only right. Everyone can say something for themselves.

I recommend checking everything and verifying every day. This is the only way to create real progress. What I am writing – also check it and think if I am right looking at it from my point of view? On the pages of my books – write your own notes. Cross out, underline – even tear out a piece of paper and throw it away – …. or take it with you in your pocket – and go on a long journey … for happiness.

I do it like that…

Jaro (Jarosław) Makosz

Ustroń (Poland) 21.02.2021

SHIFT from Reverse to DRIVE – NOW!

AREAS OF LIFE

I propose a simple test. The idea is to fill in the fields from the graph below. Try to do it in such a way as to indicate on each bar – at what level you are meeting your needs. The bars symbolically illustrate the areas of our life.

Fill them from below – like a vessel.

Note – very important!

The scale is defined by you, i.e. 10 is the full realization of your (not someone else’s or some social group’s) expectations / desires / dreams. Be honest about it. It’s your life. You judge yourself here. You decide what 1 and 10 mean on the scale. You don’t have to make anyone’s dreams come true. Each of us has our own criteria, just as each of us is unique.

The purpose of this very simple test is to quickly identify areas where we have the most work to do. You should get serious about it because it has a huge impact on our lives. The faster we react – the better for us.

The given graph is my suggestion. During my life, I drew many such and similar tables and drawings. This one is the one I use from time to time to see – where I am and what I should improve. I verify it quite often and it helps me a lot.

I put the bars in the order that is important to me and based on my years of experience. You can have your own order, and just like your own self-esteem, the order can only be your own. Of course, the number of bars can be both more and less in your case. The ones I gave are as universal as possible for most people.

In the following days, I will develop this topic and I hope to help you with something. I will also explain better what I mean by some of these terms – because not all of them may seem so obvious.

Now fill in the appropriate number of spaces in each of the life areas. The higher your chart is and the more even it will be – the more balanced and harmonious your life will be. Remember – it is your scale and you will define what „10” is for you. This game will allow you to clearly see where „your self” feels subconsciously that it should improve something.

***

VALUES AND RESOURCES

Yesterday I wrote about areas of life. Today, however, I want to talk about values ​​and resources.

I consider love as the basic value. If we do not love and are not loved, everything in our lives is disturbed. Love for a loved one affects everything else. It can lift us to heights we did not suspect ourselves of. It makes us better people. Love always gives us health and energy. It makes us better people. Love can be described in many ways. Love is the most important thing, For now, I will stop there.

Another value is health and energy. I use the word „energy” on purpose in addition. For me, it is not only physical and mental health, but much more. It is a state of high life energy. It makes us stronger and more joyful. Then we see life completely different. We are strong optimists.

Finally, value is relationships with people and what I called „acting for others”. While the word „relations” is understandable, I will explain the latter briefly. It is giving others what we have within us. It is a kind of working with others, cooperating for the good of all. This can be done in different ways. You can give something physical and you can give others your best skills. Finally, you can just give your time to listen to the other person, understand them, and sometimes just appreciate and sympathize with them. Sometimes you don’t need big things. Recently, I heard the beautiful words „Living is Giving”. It expresses it all. When asked about his life’s credo, the Dalai Lama once said: „To be useful”. Oprah Winfrey used the word „Service” – and she meant giving and working for them. The great people whose words I read almost always stressed the role of giving. This is not the case. So many people came to the same conclusion. There is truth in that.

The next 3 areas of life I am writing about are resources – not values.

Having skills, time, or money alone adds nothing if not used properly. Sometimes the means are confused with the ends. So let’s think about it for a moment.

I recommend a book by one of the great thinkers of our time – and at the same time a simple man. There you will find a lot of wisdom about the themes of road, choices and happiness that I have touched upon.

Tomorrow I will elaborate on the subject of resources. See you soon !

***

LOVE IS INDEPENDENT

Of all the areas of life, only Love is independent. Nothing can change Love, but Love can change everything. This is why I have drawn a line between love and the rest of the areas that symbolically illustrates this independence.

Is it possible not to love only because we lack health, relationships with people, skills, time or money? Of course not. It would be weak love if any of these factors could change it. Love is independent and eternal.

HEALTH AND ENERGY

Taking care of health and energy is the second area, after love, that I mention in a separate entry. Here I describe taking care of proper physical exercise. Of course, a separate topic, although closely related, is care for mental health – which I will deal with in one of the future entries. Yet another issue is the proper way to unhave and rest. These will be the next entries in which I will share my knowledge and experience.

One exercise system worth recommending is the Pilates system, which was developed by a German trainer at the beginning of the 20th century.

He created it as a system designed to improve the overall fitness and strength of the body in a very short time. Josef Pilates achieved excellent results also when using his method in the convalescence of people after longer illnesses, hospital stays, etc. Soon the military became interested in his achievements, and his exercises began to be used there as well – with great success.

He based his Pilates system largely on the elements of yoga. However, he added many exercises using the so-called stretching and isometry.

In the collection of my favorite exercises, I also have solutions for them. For many years I was looking for my own, optimal and simple path in physical exercise.

My choice is bodyweight exercises. From the very beginning I assumed that I wanted to develop all parts of the body in the most comprehensive and harmonized way possible. I believe that the military uses the best training systems. By analyzing the range of exercises chosen by various armies of the world, I know that the soldiers are right. Their exercises are simple and universal. They can be performed anywhere – at home, in a hotel room, in a park, in a word – anywhere. The silhouettes of the soldiers are also developed very proportionately, as they use only their own body weight. Their system emphasizes overall fitness and endurance. These qualities are needed not only in the army, but also in life. It is not about overdeveloped muscles, but about the soldier’s body not failing him when necessary.

The human body subjected to such training balances all tensions in different areas and leads to the proportional development of various muscle groups. These are usually multi-muscle exercises that harmoniously strengthen the weaker parts of the body and do not lead to unnatural proportions due to excessive development of some parts of the body and neglect of others. This is the case with isolated exercises, which are extremely popular in gyms. It is not uncommon to see a person exercising with one body part well-developed, but another part disproportionately neglected. As a consequence, it looks very unnatural – not to mention true fitness.

In my exercises I use yoga solutions, plates and calisthenics. I also read a great book by Paul Wade, „Condemned to Training”. It describes the exercises that prisoners perform. These are the same exercises that are also used by the military. 5-6 simple exercises are enough, but performed systematically – and it brings really great results in the form of a very rapid development of fitness. Now in this pandemic, these exercises are even more recommendable. They can be made anywhere – without any equipment!

I see no reason why ladies should not be able to do the same exercises. Absolutely yes. I will write more about it tomorrow.

Today I recommend the 1945 classic „Return to Life Through Contrology” – by Joseph Pilates

It is an old and proven book. The fact that it has survived all these years is the best proof.

Jaro Makosz

And if you are looking for good relaxing music that stimulates both meditation and exercise – I recommend an excellent album of Polish electronic music from Krakow. It’s called MADIS. His „Sea of Tranquility” gives me what I’m looking for in music.

***

HOW TO EXERCISE – UNIVERSAL SET

Here are some basic exercises that I recommend to anyone – anywhere. They can be performed regardless of age and gender – throughout life.

Push ups

Squats

ABS

Stretching – position 1

Stretching – position 2

***

SELF-DISCIPLINE

Too much study does not bear fruit. It is like sowing in a field. Every seed is like a thought … like an idea – it needs time and space to bear fruit. The grain must not interfere with the grain. Get a good understanding of what you are learning – then take a step further and learn the next thing. Without good understanding and practicing it, you will quickly forget it.

It is the ability to use knowledge that is of real value – not the knowledge itself. There are people who know a lot but don’t do anything about it. There are people who know much, much less, but who know how to use knowledge. The former are often admired, but that is where it all ends. The latter are effective – and that’s what it’s all about.

There is real value in applying knowledge and not forgetting it. In order for it to be so – you have to look around intensively and look for different places and situations where the new knowledge can be useful. BE PERSISTENT IN THIS.

I remembered today how we once missed a lesson at school. I went to high school and were in electrical engineering classes. Our poor teacher even looked for us on the tram. Those he met – he encouraged them to come back. I remember what he told us then: „Gentlemen, you will not achieve anything in life without self-discipline.” To this day, I remember the way in which he emphasized the word „self-discipline”. He himself has achieved a great deal through hard work. He was the chief electrician of one of the biggest steel mill in Poland. Then, ….years later, I found out that he liked Tolstoy as much as I did.

There only two of us returned to classes on a summer afternoon. The teacher finished his lesson …. and we went home. I don’t remember or what the classes were, but I have not forgotten what he told us when he found us. I have always had great respect for this man – for his knowledge, diligence and personal culture. His name was Jerzy Stephan.

Reading Brian Tracy and his self-discipline advice – I recall one of the lesson statements I was given ……. Thank you ! It still helps me a lot in my life.

Do what you should when you should – regardless of whether you want to or not … (a quote from a book by one of my favorite authors – Brian Tracy „NO EXCUSES !” – I’m reading it right now).

***

Time for Money

If you work in such a way that you are just turning your precious time into money – you are going the wrong way.

You can do this for a short time because the situation forces you to do so. However, if you do it all the time – you are making a huge mistake.

Remember who you are and do what you are for.  Do this, even at the cost of a very modest life. The real failure in life is not to lack money, but to waste time. 

***

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

Sometimes we look for the causes of many problems in so many other sources – and it is enough to just sleep well.

Today I will briefly tell you about the sleep and its meaning. The second most important area for me is Health and Energy. I have already written this earlier here.  I mean not only the absence of disease, but much more – Energy and Vitality. They are crucial. They affect many other areas of life. Here the sources lie both in the human psyche and in his physicality.

The basis of a healthy psyche is the right attitude. In the English-language literature, the concept of „mindset” functions here. I like them and will use them often. Mindset is first – and only then is the reception of what we experience. A man with a strong mindset can overcome unimaginably many. I will develop this topic in a separate post.

If I think about physicality, it is mainly influenced by: sleep, breathing, proper hydration of the body, physical activity and nutrition. It seems trivial, but …….. exactly – how often it is neglected.

Today I will only talk about sleep. There are different schools and it is usually stated that we need 7-9 hours to function well. Albert Einstein slept, for example, for 11 hours.

Personally, I follow the principle of going to bed early and regularly and allowing the body to rest as long as it needs – physiologically. Sometimes it is 9, sometimes 8.5 and sometimes e.g. 7 hours. It depends on the current need and the state of fatigue. The regularity of sleep initiation is important to me. Obviously, I don’t stick to these rules somehow excessively rigid. The principle is never more important to me than the essence. However, this approach has its advantages and I sincerely recommend it. We do not even suspect ourselves of how much more we can achieve mentally and physically by adding even 5 more minutes of sleep. This is invaluable! Let us not rob ourselves of sleep. Increases the quality of our lives and our happiness.

***

MINDSET

One of the key differences between people who can find happiness, even in the most difficult of situations, and those who are eternally dissatisfied – no matter how much they have – is Mindset.

To easily answer the question „What is my mindset?” – you must first answer the question „What is life for me?”. Here the answers will be different. Here are some examples:

Someone will say that life is a struggle. Believes in order to achieve something you have to fight hard. You have to be better than the others – smarter. And he actually tries to defeat others to achieve the goals he wants. He often succeeds, but it has an end to it. Then he suffers a lot – when he finally realizes that there are some people much better than he is in any field. Then he suffers even more when he sees very few things he can influence – yet he would like to arrange the whole world according to his ego.

Someone will say that life is a series of suffering, with short breaks for pleasure. Such people are, as a rule, eternal pessimists. A glass half full of water they see half empty. It is on the empty half that they will focus their attention. They are a nuisance for themselves and others.

Someone else will say that temporality is just a taste of life in heaven – eternal life. He will sink deeper into prayer and separate himself from the living.

….. And so there are many different answers. Each of them reveals what we are guided by. Different – how we are oriented. This attitude is just primal. First, someone tells himself something – and then it happens.  This is not because it is ruled by supernatural inertia, but because we see the world through whatever glasses we want. These glasses are just a MINDSET.

This blog is completely subjective. In it I present my own point of view on everything. So let me tell you what life is for me -…….. it is an adventure.

An adventure that brings many different experiences and emotions.

As good as it hurts.

brings sun, snow  and rain and then the sun again.

It gives and takes back.

It carries me up to heaven and throws down into the darkness to lift me up to heaven again.

However, what I experience – allows me to get to know life better and understand it.

Understand other people and how the world works – but also myself.

On this path I would like to always be a human being – no matter what happens.

Whether I’m up or down.

Whether I have something or have nothing.

Whether I am surrounded by good people or when I am left alone.

For me, all of this is life in its entirety.

All events are important to me because they make me more of the person I should be.

I write about it also in my first book „Observations of the World”.

I think that I am an optimist by nature, because I believe in success on this path. I see the past, present and future positively. I have had different moments in my life, but when I look back, I have never lost faith in myself and in other people. I know that in each of us there is a force that can make our world better and more beautiful. This is my Mindset – the original belief that I am going in my right direction and that something good is about to happen. Not only do I believe it, I do it too.

I also believe that these few words helped you in something. That’s what I’m writing for.

„Often everything is saved when you think it has already been lost” Leo Tolstoy (one of my favorite quotes and best writers) .

***

DAILY COURSE VERIFICATION

I have already talked about the most important areas of life. I also showed a certain board, which I will remind you once again. It presents their distribution and priorities in a very simple way. As always, I would like to remind you that this is my individual approach, but I sincerely recommend it because I have never been disappointed with it.

Now, attention – every day I verify if I have done anything in these areas. Something,….. even anything. Obviously, I do this with priorities in mind. The point is even 0not to do something equally in every area, because it is best to do more in areas according to. their priorities. This is ok. However, it is important to take at least one small step forward in the others as well.

I think that I will devote a separate post to the issue of goals and paths. There is a very important difference in the approach between what I propose – and what is commonly said ( i.e. set clear goals for yourself, because whoever does not have them is going nowhere).

I propose something completely different. For now, I will only say that the path is important to me, not the goals. More precisely – the course (direction) of this road. What others call achieving goals – for me it is only a consequence of moving in the right direction. Perhaps someone will find such a philosophy strange. However, I see in it as much logical coherence as possible. Moreover, the lack of imaginary pseudo-goals does not cause senseless pain and frustration if these pseudo-goals are not achieved. However, it should be remembered that the directions I am writing about are not pseudo-goals and pseudo-values ​​(such as home, car, money, travels, etc.). I am thinking of true values ​​(love = happiness; health and energy; acting for others). If you set them up as priorities, then these little things may (but don’t have to) appear on their own. If they appear and they are good – let’s be glad about it. If they are missing – let’s stick to the course. This course is important.

I could also use a comparison to a sailing yacht. For me, achieving any success on the path of the trek on the chosen course is only a consequence of choosing the right course – never the goal.

Imagine you are on the high seas with no horizon or any other point of reference on either side. You only have a piece of paper with bars on it. Every day, even several times, you can ask yourself a question about how you realize your satisfaction in progress on your bars, representing areas of life. In this way, moment by moment, day by day, year after year – you are on a good course. When you see yourself deviating, you correct the course of your yacht, called life, early enough. A slight movement of the steering wheel is enough. If you do it in advance, you hardly feel the effort. It is important that you skillfully use the wind and all the elements that a good sailor knows. Someone who cannot sail – it can even lead to the yacht capsizing. So detect course deviations in time.

If you go like this – you will be sailing happily. You will meet many good people along the way and visit many good places. I believe this will give you inner peace and joy. Nothing will be missing in your life. It will be a good life.

Someone who flows like this – moves on the chosen course both during the day and at night. I don’t need to see the sun or the stars. It can flow during heavy fog, storms, and blizzards. It just has this little table. It’s more than enough. You just need to remind yourself of it often enough.

***

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAPPINESS

We all want to be happy – no matter where we come from or what we do.

Happiness, however, is a state of varying intensity at different times. Depending on what state of emotional health we are in – it can be a feeling that is always above zero – but higher or lower. Such a „chart” is presented by people who are emotionally stable and have a proper Mindset (I write about Mindset here).

It can also be above zero and sometimes below zero in some people. With the zero level, I define a state in which a person is rather passive and simply is – without feeling happy or fulfilled. There are also people who are below zero most of the time, or even always. It is such people who should look at their lives in a special way.

What is very important here is realizing that being happy in life is a conscious choice. As strange as it sounds, whether we are happy or not depends only on us. You have to say „Yes, I want to be happy” first. You can also choose a different path – always complaining about everything and seeing the world through the gray filter. However, it is a waste of life – and we only have one and there will be no other, …… another. We create our own happiness.

It’s true that life often doesn’t make it easier for us to be happy. There are people whose life is extremely difficult. I feel sorry for them. But what is left for us? Let us try to help each other in this. Let’s give each other. This is one of the things it is all about – giving. It’s especially giving that makes us feel happy.

Here are the timeline charts that show the magnitude of happiness and its variability:

TYPICAL – no greater states of happiness and periodically falling below the zero level. Such people are afraid of changes in their lives and accept „mediocrity”, although they could do much more for themselves. They are usually limited by the fear of failure and the lack of will to work on oneself.

DEPRESSIVE – always below zero. Such a person destroys himself and others in the long run. She needs help from other people, but also has to help herself. The key is to understand what „we are doing to ourselves.”

UNSTABLE – characterizes people potentially capable of emotional health and a strong sense of happiness. But something shocks them too easily from this state. You should answer the questions „What’s this?” and work on it as soon as possible.

HAPPY – This is the best of the states. This is what one should strive for. A person with such characteristics, despite the „higher” and „lower” states, is still above the zero level. In addition, it is well above zero in it. This is what it is all about.

And now the question: WHAT YOU THINK ARE YOU?

***

THE ART OF LIFE

„Everything has been figured out, except how to live.”

Jean Paul Sartre

Yesterday I wrote about happiness in life. It is very important in every area of ​​life. Everything we do is then really worthwhile. We then feel that we are doing exactly what we should be doing. That’s how it is worth asking yourself during the day „Do I care about my happiness ?”. If we are happy – we give happiness.

It make sense.

Knowing how to be happy is choosing a kind of art. Contrary to appearances, you have to learn it. I would call this skill the Art of a Good Life.

You can hear various complaints all around, … there is so much nervousness, anxiety and completely unnecessary quarrels. It leads to the destruction of life energy in yourself. Even so, many people do not see it at all. They repeat the same mistakes all the time and thus destroy their energy – and others. Meanwhile, by changing only the attitude (Mindset), they can all these problems at least mitigate.

The truth is, that things like such quarrels and anxieties are irrelevant. A person with good Mindset – focuses at the same time on work, on solutions and on communication quality with his environment. Gives you good energy and tries to help rather than complaining unproductively. He is creative. He never gives up. He may be tired but never despair. He doesn’t try to transfer bad emotions to others. That’s what wise people do.

These good skills – some have already in childhood – others later and others never. Well….. If it were that easy, the art of living wouldn’t be an art.

Very often we have no influence on what life brings. We certainly have no influence on how others will behave. However, we do have one thing to do – how we will behave. Some time ago I found beautiful words in the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius.

„No matter what others do or say – your duty is to be good.”

My best quotes from his work:

Meditations of Marcus Aurelius – SUMMARIZED – (22 Stoic Principles) – YouTube

Marcus Aurlius is one of those outstanding thinkers who created extraordinary influence on many people.  He wrote only one book – „Meditations”. It was established at the end of his history. He wrote it at nights. He contained all the wisdom of his life in it. We know that he did not intend to become known with it. What he wrote – he created, as it were, for himself. As if summing up all his knowledge about the art of life and experience. It happened otherwise. His work has survived 20 centuries, and today we can still use his wisdom. He is an exceptional thinker.

Higher, higher, higher

If you want to get really high – you have to throw overboard all the things that you do not need, but only drag you down.

Think about it – do you really need them and do it asap?

Those who do not will always drift only low. They will never go to the limit of their abilities. Remember that and take flight.

I don’t just think about the items here, but mostly what you do most of the time. It is these elements that are the real weights. And you haven’t been able to give them up for years. I think about your habits, actions, addictions and anything else that bothers you. You don’t even know what a beautiful life you could have been living had it not been for this. Try to give it up, whatever it is and it doesn’t make you a better person every day ….

Concentrate only on the most important. Be unstoppable. Take advantage of every situation that life brings you (no matter if it’s good or bad) to get even higher. To learn from it. Work on yourself tirelessly.

Only then will your way to heaven be open. Only then SKY IS THE LIMIT ….

JARO MAKOSZ

Look back – and where you are today ?

In his book „Awake the Giant Within” – Tony Robbins proposes an interesting test. He means looking at yourself from the perspective of time, and more precisely at your situation from 5 and 10 years ago.

It is true that the questions he asks in the book are  different and do not coincide with those I would ask – I decided to apply his method of assessment back to my „areas of life”.

Why did Tony choose just such a number of years? I think for a simple reason. Already 5 years is such a long period that it allows us to say without any doubts whether we have followed a good course in the meantime. Not to mention 10 years that allow you to change almost everything.

I use the same table I created all the time – preferably in the evening. It is used to correct both the short-term cours (day, week) and the long-term cours (years). Significant differences in our own self-esteem from one area to another say a lot about where we were going and whether or not we should make a sharp twist in one direction to correct our course.

So take a literal moment to just have fun:

Start, stop, more, less

This mysterious title of today’s post is about the method proposed by Brian Tracy in one of the books.

I liked it, I use it myself and that’s why I decided to introduce it to you.

I made my own table for it, which I believe – well illustrates these 4 questions, grouped in one place. I named it the START-STOP table.

Here it is:

What is this all about ? It’s easy. You need to ask yourself 4 questions in light of the basic Areas of Life

1. What should I start doing and what I’m not doing yet (this is something I should start doing as soon as possible to get things right)
2. What should I stop doing, what I do all the time (this is something that should be rejected as soon as possible as it only makes the situation worse).
3. What should I be doing more.
4. What should I be doing less.

Let me remind you of the areas of life:

And a practical example:

„HEALTH AND ENERGY” area – sample

START (what to start) – regular exercise.
STOP (what to stop) – use sugar.
MORE – sleep more, walk more
LESS – sit at the desk

And so for each area. It is worth doing such a test once a week AND OF COURSE WRITE IT. Anything that is not written will not be realized either. Believe me. If you want to find out – just don’t write and you won’t do it. Or else write and you will do it. Because it shows how seriously you take your analyzes. So think with a pencil in your hand. Preferably on the same day of the week – then you will create a kind of verification cycle. These 2 tables (Life Areas and Start-Stop) will allow you to really do a lot in our lives.

Meanwhile, I suggest reading Brian Tracy on increasing productivity.

HOW MUCH WATER SHOULD I DRINK?

Water is the basic ingredient of our body. Before we start to wonder why our health or energy is upset, we should ask ourselves, „Am I drinking enough water?”

Most people drink far too little of it. Meanwhile, the correct quantity is easy to check. If our urine is very, very light – it means it’s OK. The exception is the first urine after waking up. This one can be darker and more frothy. Each subsequent one should be brighter and brighter.

If we do not properly hydrate our body – the blood becomes thicker and the heart pushes it much heavier. Water is like a good lubricant for the entire body. It also allows you to flush out all metabolic products from it.

Drinking just 1 glass of water in the morning increases our metabolism significantly. This means, of course, that we are burning more unnecessary fat in our body! Isn’t that great news?

However, hardly anyone does that. But athletes know it perfectly well. So let’s follow them.

Water quality is also important. Of course, filtered will usually be better than poured directly from the tap. The one from the glass bottle will be better than the one from the plastic one. On the other hand, I have 2 fairly simple rules, worth recommending to everyone.

1. I always let the water run down after pouring it. Even a few minutes is enough. Undesirable elements – such as stone and other mechanical impurities – fall to the bottom on their own.

2. I always leave some water at the bottom of the glass. I do so so as not to drink the items mentioned above. I just pour out the rest of the water.

I hope I motivated you a little to drink water.

Tomorrow I will start my day with 1 glass of healthy water, and you?

PRIORITIES and FOCUS

During our day, we have many things to do. There are people who plan a lot for years and even for life. I am not one of them. I like life to surprise me.

It makes me leave my comfort zone a lot – it’s true, but that’s what I want. It stimulates me and creates opportunities for confrontation with the world – and with myself. It gives me the opportunity to become what I should be faster. It is part of my philosophy of life. For many people it is strange – for me it is natural. If I lived in eternal well-being, I would not know real life. So sometimes I need stabilization and sometimes I need destabilization. I know intuitively – when and what.

I want to touch real life and the world. In all its beauty, but also in suffering. In this way, I want to understand its functioning better and give something to others. If I lived in comfort, I would only live in an image of the world, which is not the same. Robinson Crusoe had to go into the unknown to find out what I was talking about. You don’t have to be that extreme, ………but there is something to it.

Nevertheless, even I have rules in my simplicity. During the day, I try to concentrate on quickly dividing activities into four groups.

Below is a graph that illustrates this concept well. The blue balls represent different actions.

I focus the most on the first group. In fact, however, it is in the field no. 1 (the most important and at the same time the easiest and fastest tasks) I am dealing with tasks from field 2, then from field 3 and finally 4.

Even if I do not manage to do everything (and this is often the case) – I concentrate on activities 1 and 2. Tasks from groups 3 and 4 can usually be left for later. As a last resort for the next day. If there are no more important tasks the next day – automatically these tasks from today’s group 3 and 4 will be promoted to group 2 or even 1.

This concept is fundamentally different from that offered by many coaches. They are of the opinion that group 2 should rather go to the first fire. An argument for them is also the energy that you have at the beginning of work. For me – it’s a waste of time if I can quickly and vigorously implement group 1. Its importance is higher.  Moreover, there is also a good worming up, before group no.2, which is more difficult and less important.

If, however, I were to summarize in two sentences what I follow in my life when it comes to priorities & focus – it is:

„Concentrate on selecting activities where, with the least amount of energy and time – you can achieve the greatest results simultaneously. And let those results have the greatest impact on everything else.”

This is my target group. If it is exhausted – I go to group no. 2, etc.

Yes, this is the essence. The whole difficulty and experience, however, often consists in distinguishing such a group of activities – from among many others. THIS IS REAL ART.

I am convinced that by making such choices every day – you will achieve better and better things in your life. This is because one day is a reflection of all life. How you live this one day says a lot about how you will live your whole life.

If you haven’t started to change it yet – change it right away. Sail your yacht (life) calmly and confidently. You’re going in the right direction.

DASHBOARD

To sail accurately in azimuth, that is – in the right direction – you need the right measuring instruments.

They will allow you to sail in all conditions at the right course. Not only on a beautiful sunny day, but also on a starless, dense night, in fog, snow, gale and storm … and then again on a beautiful day. Here is the steering cockpit (DASHBOARD) that I propose to you. As you already know from my previous posts on the AREAS OF LIFE – you are moving towards value by using resources. However, you have to measure them with your own and individual satisfaction scale. I have already discussed the concept of START, STOP, MORE, LESS.

Now I have combined both of these tools into one – creating the control panel of your yacht. What do they mean – below. Enter under each field what you think. Make sure to write it down. If you don’t write it down, it’s like wasting your time. Just writing it down, not just thinking it, changes at the level of your Mindset. You write it down is the only proof that you take yourself seriously.

OK – what you think you do well and you should keep this level.

START – what you should start doing in a given area and what you are not doing yet to increase the level of your assessment.

STOP – what you should stop doing in a given area (and what, unfortunately, you are doing) to raise the level of your rating.

MORE – what you should do more in a given area to raise the level of your assessment.

LESS – what more should you do in a given area to raise your level of assessment.

And that’s all. And sail towards the light. Check this dashboard every day – afterwards, throughout the day, and even at the beginning of the day – planning what you are going to do. Also check your progress weekly, monthly and annually. Even check your long-term course – 5 years ago and more, and look at the course tomorrow, next week, next year and more. However, focus on the desktop indications now and raise these indications. Do it like there’s no tomorrow. Let life surprise you. I am convinced that if you can sail like this – it will surprise you positively 🙂

On the above desktop, I have given examples of indications in orange.

Life Kaizen, Life Kaikaku

I have been working in industry since 1998. I have gathered very different experiences related to the organization and development of products, projects and processes. Among the companies I worked for were Ford, Siemens and ABB. I can see some possibilities of applying the methods I have known – in our daily lives. Today I will talk about Kaizen and Kaikaku.

Below are the definitions that I explain based on my understanding and practical everyday use. They may not be exactly bookish, but this is where we add value to what we teach. We teach as we ourselves understand and apply something. Maybe just explaining this way – someone will understand it better. Someone else will do it differently – and that’s good too. And it will be a KAIZEN of the TEACHING METHOD itself 🙂

KAIZEN – it is simply „Road to continuous improvement”. It is even a philosophy of work, consisting in frequent improvement of smaller elements, e.g. in the production process. Here you can give an example of using a different tool – or improvement of an existing one, reorganization of a workstation, etc. KAIZEN is like an improvement often, but in small steps.

KAIKAKU – translated „Reform”. This method is based on a fairly thorough remodeling of larger elements, e.g. in the production process. You can give an example of a major reorganization of the entire production line, change of machines and even the entire technology. KAIKAKU is like an improvement in rarer but big, meaningful steps.

Both methods should complement each other so that they bring the intended effects on the scale of the company’s operation – and in a moment I will also say: life …..

I try to keep my texts as short as possible – so I will briefly say why I compare the company with our life.

Well, in life you can also ask yourself questions about KAIZEN and KAIKAKU:

How to do something better (qualitatively) ?
How to do something faster (without losing quality) ?
How to do something cheaper (without losing quality) ?
How to do something more energy efficiently (without losing quality) ?

KAIZEN OF LIFE (mine) – it is used by someone who will be even unconsciously improving everything in himself and in his space. He will strive to improve his skills, improve the organization of methods, organization of time, care for health, relationships, etc. (see here full Dashboard). He will also improve his environment – such as the place where he lives. He will even rearrange furniture until it reaches the optimum that will give him satisfaction. Sometimes it might seem that he has really done everything, but from time to time he will ask himself this fundamental question, „Can’t it be done even better?” And he will verify it again from time to time. If he decides that he is not at the moment, he will come back to this issue again later.

A KAIKAKU OF LIFE (mine) – every now and then there are more thorough questions, such as whether even a place of work, flat, or profession should not be changed. These are life’s turning points. Many people do not ask themselves these types of questions. They are very afraid of them. KAIKAKU is a real revolution. However, I believe that if someone really wants to fully develop their life potential – they should not be afraid to take on such challenges. Sometimes they are even necessary. This is because over the years we understand ourselves – and the world better. We get to know our abilities and predispositions better. So let’s ask ourselves from time to time a question about „Thorough Changes” of the kind of KAIKAKU.

As I like the analogy of the life path to the yacht’s course, so here I also summarize that KAIZEN is like a daily slight course correction based on what is currently happening. KAIKAKU can mean a sudden maneuver, e.g. when we are going to an unexpected reef, but also a good opportunity.

And the graph I made to better illustrate this:

This is what I have called myself – KAIZEN’S MIND. This is where it all starts – in the mind. In a deep sense of the constant need to improve everything. Some have it naturally, others learn it, others will never understand it.

Finally, a short story that I heard somewhere:

The prison guard asked Socrates, who was waiting in prison for the execution of the sentence:

– Why are you learning a foreign language when you will die in two weeks?

„Exactly for the same reason as before, in his youth,” – he replied …..

And this is an example of how the true KAIZEN MIND will work on itself always and until the end …

***

LIFE TASK – WE ARE ALL MADE FOR GREAT THINGS

Have you discovered your LIFE TASK? And if you discovered it, did you undertake its implementation?

It can mean different things to different people. For someone like Richard Branson, it could mean doing extraordinary and non-standard things. Giving something to others and to himself. He can combine doing big business with giving people value. He always emphasized it. He said that you should look for a business area where there is an unresolved problem. It is worth considering this. Money was never a target for him. He earned money by the way – by giving solutions. And that’s what impresses me about him.

His story shows that despite the apparent problems with writing and reading (he had dyslexia) – it in no way prevented him from achieving such great success. He was a persistent dreamer with his own rules.

His philanthropic activity is also admirable. I quote Wikipedia here. „Branson announced the establishment of a new global science and technology award aimed at encouraging technological development for the benefit of mankind. The Virgin Earth Challenge is $ 25 million for an individual or team presenting a commercially viable project resulting in a systematic, annual reducing the amount of greenhouse gases over a period of at least ten years without causing harmful side effects. Such reductions must have long-term results and have a significant impact on climate stabilization. ’

Like many other great minds of our era – including Bill Gates (Microsoft), Jimmy Wales (Wikipedia), Larry Page (Google), Elon Musk (Tesla, PayPal, SpeceX, Neuralink) – all are seriously involved in the the greenhouse effect solution

Elon Musk established a $ 50 million award for a similar project. Elon, as many other people, are very socially responsible. This is great. This clearly shows that the goal of such individuals was not after all wealth, but something much more. My favorite musician – Jean Michel Jarre, among the many problems he became interested in – was also the one concerning the lack of water in some parts of the world (project: Water for Life). He has repeatedly subsidized various types of charity campaigns. In Poland, for example, he supported a center for blind children in Laski near Warsaw. I remember it in a special way.

Recently, passing a bookstore, I keep coming across a book by Bill Gates – titled „How to avoid a climate disaster”. It addresses the same problem – global warming. He also proposes to unite the forces of scientists, businessmen and many influential people to save our common good.

I remember that also Michael Jackson in his last documentary film „This is It” also touched on the topic of saving the earth together.

What can we do? A lot. Don’t waste water, don’t waste electricity, don’t buy unnecessary things, walk and cycle more, use reusable bags, choose glass bottles and glass packaging instead of plastic, turn the smartphone into battery saving mode at night -……….etc., etc. Each of us produces a huge amount of rubbish every year. How we live and what we do with our rubbish is part of our personal culture as much as everything else that we present with ourselves. The action of one person multiplied by the billions produces very serious changes. This should be taught to our children. Ecology should be as natural to all of us as brushing our teeth or exercising. It’s part of the culture.

Apparently, the problem of living beyond the state concerns millionaires. On the other hand, billionaires, that is people thousands of times richer – live, contrary to appearances, quite modestly. They often drive ordinary cars and lead a very normal life. This proves that only great goals allow people to really achieve a lot. And it wasn’t about money at all, but about doing something important for the world. To make a change. I could mention many characters here, from different eras and from different fields. They felt this need.

Yet we are all made for great things – all of us. Everyone in their own way. Even the smallest one. And it is not about comparing ourselves to those famous people at all. But we should ask ourselves the question: Have we undertaken the life task facing us?

One of my previous posts – Hedgehog Diagram will help you find this area. However, I believe that the most appropriate path is my version of the diagram, which I finally called LIFE TASK.

Everyone should do what they do best and what the world needs. It’s about what will help the world, not what the world is willing to pay for.

I think you already know more and more clearly what you should do in life. Are you ready for this? Regardless of whether you already know it – I will help you with it in my next posts 🙂

***

IT’S A TRAP

I am from the Star Wars generation – so the language of this fairy tale is close to me. Sometimes certain sentences stay with us for a long time, especially when we heard them as children. One such phrase for me is „It’s a trap”. Let me tell you about the traps.

Anyone who knows and likes Star Wars certainly knows these words. They are spoken by the captain of the rebel forces when he realizes during the attack that the Death Star shield is still active. This means that during the assault – the entire fleet will crash in this field in one moment. Then the words „Stop the attack …… it’s a trap” are heard.

The action is ultimately successful only because he gives the order to retreat at the last moment. Despite huge losses and a massive enemy attack, the rebels still won. It worked – it was not too late.

The memory of this fairy tale – led me to today’s post ? By the way – it’s interesting. I will try to explain it as simply as possible.

You see, there are certain things in life that we don’t see clearly enough. We do not notice how patiently certain traps await us. What characterizes them? In my opinion, they are connected by 6 elements at the same time. Here’s what such an event – trap is ?

1. It can happen very easily (it doesn’t take much for it to happen)
2. Very likely to happen (and will rather happen – sooner or later)
3. The consequences are extremely serious (both in the short and long term. Can create a domino effect – one bad event after another)
4. It affects more than one area of our life (so it is extremely dangerous)
5. It will happen quickly and unexpectedly. (Often times, we do not even have the opportunity to reflect on what is happening because it is too late. This is the nature of trap – surprise you.)
6. Being aware of it, however, it can be avoided very easily. THIS POINT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT. FOCUS ON THEM AS YOU IDENTIFY THE FIRST „5”.

It is this point 6 that is most often neglected. Paradoxically, this is why I think that the ease of avoiding such a situation gives us a false sense of security. The statistics, however, are ruthless.

Let me give you a drastic example, but one of the most common causes of fatal accidents at work is accidents involving forklifts. Too much depends on the human. And man is always the most unreliable component of almost any system. Unfortunately.

I am waiting for the day when we will have self-driving forklifts. I believe that what Elon Musk is doing in the area of ​​unmanned vehicles – will also bring huge progress here and improve safety. And for forklift drivers – they will always have the opportunity to actively improve their knowledge and skills in other areas. They will have a lot of work. Man is a creative being – and it should always be like that. We can afford much more than just servicing a vehicle. We should expect much, much more of ourselves.

As for the traps. The trap is inconspicuous and waiting for you. Such is its nature. It is like a dangerous but neglected black hole.

This applies to the various actions we undertake. Both the everyday ones, as well as, for example, business, professional – and any other.

It’s a small incident that can happen very easily – and the consequences can be fatal for your whole life.

We all fall into trap situations from time to time. However, it is really worth anticipating them and not asking for misfortune yourself.

As I mentioned before – my professional experience mainly concerns design and production. I also dealt with security-related systems. There, the issue of causes and preventive actions is placed very high. Very systematic and rather complex analyzes are carried out. They are intended to provide relatively simple answers in the end:

1. Why Made? (And before that – what could potentially happen?)

2. Why not Detected? (And before that – how can the system detect it?)

3. Why not Predicted? (And before that – what else could be included and not done?)

Entire interdisciplinary teams take part in such „a priori” and „a posteriori” analyzes (before and after the fact). Apart from the formal requirement for the participation of representatives of various organizational units and their respective competences, specialized programs are used to support decision-making. Sometimes the multitude of variants surpasses the human mind. All activities, however, focus on one thing – entering the system into a safe state in an emergency. So, let me put it in a nutshell. This applies in particular to such areas as the aviation, railway, automotive, military, medical and nuclear energy industries. Wherever the stakes are high – human health and life.

One more thing – such analyzes are never concluded with the statement of facts. They must have consequences in quickly rebuilding the system into one that will be more perfect. It is a MUST (and not Recommended) to learn from the lessons (LESSONS LEARNED).

We cannot let ourselves be surprised by our own wishes. This is how you create progress. And if it happens theoretically (even before the pests appear) – the more we can congratulate ourselves on our success.

Life situations are often simpler. Here are some examples:

• You have materials on your phone that are only there – secure it. Losing or not losing a smartphone is very low. That can happen very easily, etc. Do you want to lose everything in one moment ? TRAP
• If road conditions are bad – slow down and be extremely careful. Do you want to lose everything in one moment ? Do you really think you have such a good car and are such a good driver? TRAP
• Poorly secured workplace. Such a place just asks for an accident. This event meets all 6 criteria I am writing about. An accident can cripple you and it will destroy your life. Along with yours, most often – also others. And it’s so easy to prevent it. Look around. TRAP

I have only given 3 simple and typical situations. I will leave you room for creativity now. It’s your life after all.

Are you able to identify such dangers in your daily life ?

For me, one of such situations is, for example, the possibility of wasting my work by expiring the domain www.jmakosz.com. It happened once (last year). In case of incorrect booking of my payment- the page has disappeared. So that my achievements – I publish books on Amazon. I update them systematically. My books are written simultaneously with posts. This is the result of identifying one of these traps. It is important to me that what I do is complete at every stage of my work. That’s how I draw – and that’s how I write.

Perhaps this simple drawing will help? Note that the lines leading to the trap are extremely thin (inconspicuous). The trap itself is like a small but black hole. Take time to identify these traps. And if something happened once, it could very well happen a second time. Don’t risk a domino effect or a chain reaction. You have too much to lose. Be smart.

Whenever you identify such an inconspicuous black hole, tell yourself immediately and clearly – IT’S A TRAP! (you’ll see – it works). Do something about it ASAP!

***

CONSTANT SELF-DEVELOPMENT

Why do we stop our dynamic learning process – at the childhood stage?

We achieve so much by the age of 15-19, and then the vast majority of people suddenly stop it. Until this age, school stimulates the development.

And then ….. ?

We stop demanding from ourselves. Yes – we still learn later, but in an incomparably slower way. On top of that, we look at the others and see that they too have slowed down. If you compare the amount of material we absorb in a month – at the age of 10 and 20 – this comparison shows a drastic reduction in flights. I will not mention the following years. If someone studies, it means that they will keep the learning curve at some level for some time. However, the students are also soon lowered their hands and only take care of the maintenance at a certain level. After finishing their studies, most of them also only have to „drift” on the surface. This is destructive conformism. You can stop talking about development and start talking about maintenance.

Meanwhile, this is a big mistake. We can afford a lot, a lot – practically all our lives. Even though our intellectual abilities do decline with age, they do not decline as much as most people permit. By succumbing to the conformist way of life – we gradually destroy our potential. The number of books read or audiobooks listened to – is drastically different. People are primarily looking for entertainment rather than specialist knowledge. And it is this kind of knowledge that we should first of all look for – SPECIALIST.

When we are younger, we learn about the world of general things. If someone uses this time well, he will know more and more precisely – what he wants to learn in the future. And yes, over the years, he will become an increasing specialist in his field. Sometimes life can force a change in the industry. It happens. However, this does not mean that everything is wasted. If possible, look for the most frequent opportunities to use previous life experiences – also in a new place. And most importantly – CONTINUED TO DEVELOP AND NEVER GIVE UP.

I will add that it has nothing to do with competition with others. Absolutely not. It’s about ourselves.

As I remember, in one of the books by Anthony de Mello there is a fragment about an eagle that for some reason probably fell out of its nest and walked from his youth in a pen with chickens. He saw an eagle once flying high in the sky and said

– This eagle flies beautifully. And one day I may fly like this.

„You can’t,” said one of the hens that pecked grain next to it (like chickens). – you are a hen. Chickens don’t fly.

Then the little eagle lowered his head sadly and continued pecking at the grain, …… just like a hen – because he believed that he was a hen.

However, the message of this story is more important. And this one is very simple – WE ARE ALL EAGLES, AND ON OUR OWN WISHING, MANY OF US PREFER TO PRETEND CHICKENS (BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLER, COMFORTABLE AND SAFE).

Finally, graph. Become the best specialist you can become in your field and never quit. Try to make this arrow climb up as fast as possible. Don’t let your hands down over the years. You know more and more, and you know yourself better and better. Let constant development accompany you throughout your life.

Find some inspiration also here:

***

WISDOM THAT LASTS

I would like to return to the person of Marcus Aurelius. I mentioned it briefly a while ago, and now I will add some more information. He is a unique figure in the world of philosophy. He is a man who, with his simple message written at night, by candlelight – has reached us through the centuries. It is worth testing the wisdom that comes from his texts.

The first time I mentioned Mark Aurelius here.

If someone would like to recall his character in an instant – I think it is very simple to do it. Who has not watched the movie „Gladiator”. Aurelius is in a conversation with Maximus about life, vocation, … what is important. He wants to make Maximus the defender of Rome. He believes that he deserves power like no other. First of all, because he does not want it and is a moral man.

Finally, he talks to Maximus

– Now, please bring the old man a blanket …

Marcus Aurelius managed to write his work. Thanks to this, we can use the wisdom he has accumulated.  I sincerely recommend it to you – it deserves a moment of attention – really.

Here is that dialog from the movie.

Gladiator Movie Scene – Marcus Aurelius & Maximus talk of Rome and Home. – YouTube

There is also an excellently read audiobook in English – FULL VERSION. Perfect for listening while walking or driving

If you prefer to read a book – here it is !

***

COURSE

What happens to us in life results from everyday, inconspicuous activities. Whether they are wrong or right actions, each will have an impact. Their sum will give a result – which can be seen only after some time.

Our little choices are worth looking at. They have a huge impact on setting the direction. You have to keep them good and correct the course regularly.

If your daily choices are good, then at some point you will find that you are in a very good place. Your success is inevitable. It is only a matter of time.

I use my „LIFE COMPASS” every day

I call my table variously – Control Panel, Life Compass, Road Map, Dashboard, Cockpit, etc. I like to play with names.

Every day I try to answer the question – Have I done at least one thing in each of the 6 areas to raise the „indicators” higher?

I also ask myself this question in the morning when I plan my day. I also ask myself every now and then to follow my course and draw conclusions. I also ask myself them – by setting a long-term rate. I use the same simple tool all the time.

I figured out what a „10” was for me in each area. Your „10” – it could be something else. It is obvious. We are different people. In practice, however, the differences will not be that big. Basically, we can differ in the amount of money that pleases us 🙂 I don’t need that much.

Here is what the dashboard looks like (and an example of the evaluation of the indications).

FILE TO DOWNLOAD – HERE ! (print it out and stick it somewhere you often look at)

In a boat, I would have this

Earlier, I compared such navigation to sailing a yacht. It is a beautiful and poetic comparison. But I could also use another one.

Imagine a submarine journey. We are the captain of this boat. We take our family on board – those who are so important to us. We are also responsible for them. The boat will sail under very different conditions. Often at such a depth that you won’t know if it’s night or day. The waters will sometimes be so cloudy that the boat will struggle to wade through the thick black substance. Then it’s really tough. Then remember one thing – never quit and never slow down.

You know how much oxygen you have on board, you know how much energy you have in your batteries, your food supplies, etc. You know your draft and speed. Thanks to the location system, you know your coordinates and recognize underwater obstacles from a distance.

It sounds a bit more dangerous than in the version with yacht sailing – right? However, do not be afraid and constantly correct the course, looking only at the measuring instruments. In the submarine, you can only rely on them.

Sometimes – when you emerge – you see an iceberg unexpectedly. You’ve seen it on the monitor before, thanks to the early warning system. You can only see what it looks like. It has its charm …

Don’t panic and keep sailing. Trust this tool 🙂

These are the mountains that those who do not have the right tools for sailing land on. They damaged them at their own request. They neglected love, health and life energy, relationships with people, their natural talents, time and even money.

But you won’t crash. You will bypass it calmly – all the time looking at the indications of the instruments, remembering that the first 3 are the values. This is it. The next 3 are just means – they are never values ​​in themselves. They only help. Remember what you called your ideal state for each of these areas (write it down at the bottom of each column). You wrote it very carefully. When revising the course, you also ask yourself what you should start doing – and what you should stop doing. What to do more and do less in each area.  It can also be the case – that everything in this area is OK and does not currently require correction. You are swimming well. All this to raise the indicators as close to the maximum scale as possible. That’s it. And that’s enough. It’s so simple !

And you will dive again. You will swim under the water for a very long time. Imagine you can’t see anything through the glass. Will you give up hope? Will you quit? Will you slow down your speed?

If you do not do this – a great reward awaits you. I know you won’t – because you’re tough.

Sometimes when you emerge you can see dolphins jumping in calm waters.

Sometimes you will come across beautiful islands – full of exotic fruits and pure spring water. Good people live there and they will host you. You will spend a beautiful time together.

You will see beautiful sunsets there ….. and who knows, …… maybe you will even decide to live there permanently?

So – maintain your speed every day no matter what the conditions are. Remember – success is only a consequence of the daily, individual choices we make. You will bring it back, for sure – if you trust this simple tool.

I do it and it gives me inner peace. I know with 100% certainty that I am going in the right direction.

And if you would like to listen to something that will support you while sailing …

Enya – May It Be (Official Lyric Video) – YouTube

Enya  sings:

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

***

FULL STEAM AHEAD

The problem is that most people focus on – how to live comfortably, not on – how to develop their true, unique, inner potential – given to them by nature. They want to get along well and consume the fruits of such a solution calmly. This is what the system in which we live in teaches us from an early age.

There are few people going against the tide. However, making this effort is the best, though the hardest, path. Believe me. So ……. what decision?

***

PHILOSOPHY OF SIMPLICITY

When someone new gets to know me, they often ask me this question:
– How do you do that you are so composed,…. calm inside? I also want it like that.

Somehow I didn’t think much about it before because it just comes from my nature. However, I meet this observation so often that I decided to share it. Perhaps I can help someone in this way?

I think happiness lies somewhere in simplicity and harmony. We have an unnecessary tendency to complicate things.

It is true that not everything is so simple – but for our, human and limited needs, it is often enough to simplify something to understand it better.

Here are some rules that guide me:

I believe that there is nothing more precious than love.

If you have such a priority in life, everything else will fall into place.

I really don’t want much.

This applies to both the state of possession and the expectations of life.

I try to have only what I use often. Depending on the periods of my life, I had more or less of these things. However, whenever I could sell or pass something on – I was glad that this thing found a new, good owner. Practically – the less I have, the better. I also feel freer. Possession makes it necessary to care for this state of possession. The possessed items and property take our precious time. For example, people often build large houses and use only a small part of them, but spend a lot of their time on them. I spend this time on what is important to me. And I do not worry unnecessarily, I concentrate only on the most necessary things.

I think this lack of desire to possess something is one of the foundations of my philosophy of life. It also makes me free from jealousy.  Really – I don’t pay much attention to what someone has, or to many other things that usually impress others. I am impressed by the inner values ​​of a human being – and I admire them and try to learn them from others – which is quite the opposite.

I find time every day to meditate calmly.

This greatly calms the mind and allows you to correct the „course” – every day, week, month, etc. This is important. To feel that the best we can do at the moment. Sometimes it is very little, but it is important that it is what we can do the best right now.

To enjoy something, you don’t have to own it.

Sometimes it is enough to borrow something – to see what it is like. Do we have to have it right away? I believe it is about the moments lived, about the journey through life – not what we have. This alone gives you a great deal of peace of mind because you don’t worry about losing something.

I’m not too worried about the future.

I believe that if I take small steps, but in the right direction – this future will be good. It will be a consequence of my everyday, small efforts and decisions. That’s it.

We cannot fully predict the future, but what is certain is that if someone cuts the branch they are sitting on, it will fall. You don’t have to be a prophet here. This branch is for example concern for health and life energy. I put it really high. I can also be happy that I am healthy. It brings happiness in itself. Even such a simple thing as breathing – full, calm, deep, healthy.

I appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. It applies to everything – people, pictures, sounds, light, colors, smells, sun …..

Here again – after all, nothing is taken for oneself. An Italian proverb says „Music belongs to everyone”. I would extend it to all the experiences that the world brings. Just notice it.

I am calm – because I know that everything will happen at the right time….

I do not worry unnecessarily that I will miss something, etc. I know that some good force helps me … I can feel it …, I experience it and I have no doubts … I have no feeling that I am late somewhere (although sometimes I am late 🙂 – one of my worst flaws). The feeling that something good is both guiding me through my life and looking after me is a powerful source of peace.

Well, somewhere they will close the door for me – somewhere else someone kind will open others. I know good people are everywhere. I will also help others – completely selflessly. Because other people are important to me.

I don’t get distracted from what I’m doing every now and then. I am trying to feel the essence of it.

A person who is constantly chasing something – is restless. I’m not chasing anything. There are so many things I will never know, never see, never experience. Probably compared to the others – unbelievably little.

I’m not worried about it. In return, however, I try my best to feel the few things that life gives me. I’m not chasing something because other people do. I listen to the inner „compass”.

I don’t tend to compare myself to other people.

Each of us goes our own way. The fact that we are here and now and in this and no other situation – good or not – is not only up to us. It is the result of many different elements. We can only influence some of them. The rest is completely independent of us. Sometimes it takes so little for things to turn out completely different. So – I don’t compare.

I try to live in harmony with my own nature.

I live quite my way. I think sometimes I don’t even realize that my habits are so different from typical. They just became obvious to me.

I eat simple but nutritious – this is important to me. I do simple but regular physical activity. I sleep well.

I set myself few tasks to do each day, but I try to get them done.

I don’t have long to-do lists, and I’m flexible too, and improvise quickly if I need to.

In return I ask myself – and if I had to do just one thing, what would it be? And if I had to do just two things, what would it be? And so rather simple and without a schedule full of duties – I live quite peacefully. If, despite the will to do something, I cannot do it – tomorrow is also a day. I don’t bother myself with this. It is important that in honesty with myself – I tried. The problem is when you don’t even try.

I listen to my interior.

I respect my feelings. I try to be good and gentle with myself – although demanding. I like myself. This allows me to stay strong in difficult situations. I think I can take care of myself as a good friend. I guess it is this feature that made me never prone to addiction. I don’t want to hurt myself.

I try to extinguish my pride

This feature causes a lot of damage. We all have it.

Healthy Ego, or self-esteem and identity, has nothing to do with pride. Pride comes from believing that I am more important than others. This is a bad feeling.

I know everyone has the right to life and happiness. I am not more important than anyone in this world. But I also don’t feel less important than anyone. I have no complexes towards anyone – and neither should others have them.

I limit the number of things I do. I choose only the most important and the ones that work best for me.

At the same time, I try to choose those that others naturally want from me. I shape them …… and keep a calm mind at the same time.

I try, as much as possible – to live in harmony with other people. Without sacrificing myself.

I borrowed this sentence from a well-known text  – „Desiderata”. It has tremendous power. It helped me find myself many times.

I could probably write a few other things, but I think that’s enough for now. I go to sleep, because as I wrote – taking care of yourself is an important thing 🙂

And below full text of „Desiderata”.

Desiderata

Max Ehrmann, 1948

***

PRIORITIES

I have already written about the Compass of Life. Now about priorities.

There is a reason why I have placed all areas of life in the right order and in the right priorities – starting from the left. The first 3 are values ​​and the next 3 are only resources. They resemble the puzzle made of stones, which you can see in the photo – above. There is one more pebble there, but this is only a comparison. Anyway, the table below, my Compass of Life, is mine. Yours may be a little different. Maybe the order of these areas will be a little different for you? There may also be some more (or fewer) life areas (like pebbles). However, I don’t think the differences are significant.

Once we have our priorities in place, let’s take a look at the puzzle made of stones. The conclusion is obvious. Large stones must be at the bottom. It is impossible to build this structure – first placing small pebbles, and only then on them – large ones. Such a structure will be very unstable and will tip over. Even moving only two of these pebbles will seriously disturb the stability. So what do you say to that?

Or maybe you prefer to rotate this picture?

Now it’s a lot more like a puzzle made of stones – right?

It’s so simple – will you agree with me?

Then why do so many people do differently?

I often meet people with different priorities. Of course they say otherwise – but this is a showcase version of them. One that sounds nice and that’s it. However, it is enough to pay a little attention and the real picture of the situation is clearly visible.

There are people who, for example, have a different priority of money. They even put them in the first position. Time almost automatically follows money because one is closely related to the other. It is even said that „time is money”. People who respect money exceptionally – they also respect time exceptionally. However, the puzzle gets very unstable.

But there is another kind of „puzzle” that is even more typical. In fact, money is just a tool for something even worse. And what – how do you think? Maybe the seventh pebble that is not in my Compass of Life (and is in the photo) is …… pride. Pride, i.e. the desire to matter more than others – an unnatural excess of EGO. If someone builds his life structure on this pebble, it will not only be unstable. It will be extremely unstable. You can agree with me or not – but in my opinion, the most typical arrangement of these elements is among more than half of the people you can meet – as follows:

This pattern is promoted by our contemporary „Western culture of success”. Note that blue resources (money, skills, time) have been converted to values. And that’s not all – additionally shuffled between them. Total life mess. And if you prefer to turn this table vertically:

The construction as above – it will even stand still for some time. But then it will fall apart. It will be blown away by a stronger wind. This construction contradicts the laws of nature – that’s why.

Look – such an exemplary „businessman” is to take care of money, manage time well, of course also with his skills (called competences), take care of himself (fitness, gym, outings with other successful people), take care of relationships (because they can be beneficial – you never know) …… and ……. true relationships and care for the welfare of others, and finally love – are at the end. Maybe sometimes they will do something for others as part of philanthropy – because that looks nice too.

Of course, on the desk of such a „successful man” you must find photos of the family, etc. He will also answer you automatically what is most important to him. But it’s just a nice packaging. The truth is different. Look … it’s so easy to fall into such a trap. So easy.

I don’t mind business. I only pay attention to these inconspicuous delicacies. It is very easy to go overboard somewhere, and only a trained eye can see what is really there. Don’t be one of those people who have rearranged their areas of life, confused resource values.

Now for an interesting consideration. I meet quite a few people who put their own good above Love. It is even quite „beneficial” for them. These people generally like the very word „beneficial”. They use it often – notice. From an economic and energetic point of view, maybe yes. It would even seem logical – we must love ourselves first and then love others. How can this be nicely explained. Yeah.

But are you really sure ?

I was thinking about it today while driving my car. I would not be able to replace the first two elements of this pyramid – that is Love, with care for my own health and energy of life. My natural hierarchy of values ​​doesn’t allow me to do that. I would do something against myself. It is probably even illogical, because such a person may, in certain situations, act to his own disadvantage. Yes – Love may be mistaken as illogical. I will underline the word again – mistaken.

But after all, as I once formulated it in OBSERVATIONS OF THE WORLD –

„The only phenomenon that makes someone else more important to you than yourself – is Love”.

Yes – this is its phenomenon.

***

PUPPET

We all have the kind of thread to pull – and our automatic response begins. We become aware of it sometimes after a while, and sometimes not at all. However, only from the moment we try to do something about it – our evolution to a higher level of development will begin.

Often times people don’t do anything about it. As if they did not mind that someone pulls the thread and lifts the leg or hand by itself. Someone else is pulling the thread and his mouth opens. Someone provokes someone with a fancy word – and the other one jumps down his throat.

Sometimes this thread is, for example, a praise. And we’re already excited, and we’re already starting to talk more and show off. We are hungry of appreciation and notice – because, for example, we didn’t get enough of it in our lives. In a moment you realize that you are perhaps an element of skillful manipulation.

For someone else, it is enough to tell something about his complexes. It’s like pulling a thread, touching a pain center – and his fists clench.

Someone always responds the same to certain words – and is never able to refrain from commenting. Interestingly, it is almost always the same.

Someone becomes depressed or frustrated about some type of stimulus. He always repeats the same pattern of behavior. He can’t get out of the spin and falls down again.

etc, etc.

You will pull the same thread 1000 times and you will get the same reaction 1000 times. Isn’t that pathetic?

There are plenty of examples and it is not just addictions, but exactly all the reactions we get in life through the process of teaching our own nervous system. Very often, and perhaps most often – it happens unconsciously. Of course, don’t even learn it.. But this is an even higher driving school – stopping the learning of bad habits in good time.

Only natural reactions, such as withdrawing the hand in case of contact with a higher temperature, etc., do not apply.

Why did I write this? In order to get everyone to improve in the art of self-observation. It is as if we are watching someone else. It’s hard at first. Sometimes even very much. We already have developed patterns. Imagine yourself sitting next to you and looking calmly at your behavior. Whatever the latter does, the former is calm. And so you can see clearly what you were not aware of.

The rule is simple. If we have got used to something through learning – we can also unlearn it. It will take time, but it is possible.

Action – Reaction

Action =  NO Reaction !

The point is to cut these threads. Sometimes they are just delicate threads, and sometimes strings, or even thick ropes.

It is said that it takes around 20 days to change reaction patterns. Already then you can clearly see the changes. But the longer we get used to each type of behavior, the longer it can take to cut that connection. However, it is possible.

From a scientific point of view, changing the human reaction, like that of an animal, has only two paths: Pain or Pleasure. I read a book about it recently. But I would very much like to believe that there is another third – the way of understanding. Anthony de Mello wrote about it. After all, he studied psychology. He knew what he was saying.

I want to believe that man is not only an animal, but is capable of self-observation and self-work. Maybe it’s only true for a certain percentage of people, but I believe it.

I am faithful to observe some dogs – especially the most intelligent ones – German Shepherds. When you approach the fence – most dogs run to the fence and bark furiously. Most German Shepherds, however, do not. He will rather be watching you. He knows there is a fence between you and he doesn’t waste his precious life energy on mindlessly rolling foam from his mouth. He did this once and saw that he would not jump over the fence. He will only become interested in you when you really get too close. It will then come slowly and purr menacingly. These dogs, and probably a few others, entered a different level of evolution. He will not respond to an action – with the same schematic reaction. Maybe he did it differently when he was younger. But then he learned it – he understood. Nobody punished or rewarded him. This is the third way – through understanding. The mongrel will always do the same. These dogs don’t.

It takes a lot of inner strength to master your automatic reactions. However, who can do it – becomes an extremely strong person. You feel this strength from a kilometer away.

***

ADVICE FROM JEFF BEZOS

I listen to various interviews and advice from various people. The advice of those who have achieved much in their lives is very valuable. Yesterday I listened to the words spoken by Jeff Bezos – the creator and owner of Amazon.

He said a lot of interesting things …… but one thing I remember especially. I like to search my own mind in peace and quiet. Playing today, while resting, on the recorded tape, which remained in me after yesterday’s interview – I pressed STOP in my imagination and rewound the sound a few sentences back. He said:

– Try to imagine yourself as an 80-year-old man. Now you are looking back at your life. Now ask, did you try to minimize the amount of regrets?

I would even say that what he is proposing may even be some kind of meditation. Sit in silence, close your eyes and breathe calmly. Imagine that you are 80 years old – or even more if you are already 80 🙂 What does a fulfilling life mean to you? I think my Compass of Life can be of help here again. The novelty is that you now look at it from a different angle – at the end of your journey.

Awesome! I haven’t looked at it that way yet.

In a way, this idea is very close to that of Marcus Aurelius, who said something about 2,000 years ago in the category:

– trying to imagine that you have lived your life ……. And now you have come back and try to live properly.

There are differences here because Aurelius was very focused on transience. He also wrote these words as an old man, and it was more of a teaching and cautionary tale read at the end of his life.

In the case of Bezos – thought is like long-term project.  It’s not „Save what’s left,” but he says, „design yourself ahead of time so that you will be satisfied with your life.” His thoughts can be used by both the elderly and the very young, who have everything in front of them. The only condition is the ability to understand the wisdom of these words.

Jeff Bezos says something else that is very important.

– Have a long-term view of everything.

In his opinion, this applies to both the professional and family area, and in every other one.

In his opinion, one should strive for satisfaction with life. And I like the fact that he uses that gentle word „satisfaction”. He might say „happiness”, but satisfaction gives a lot of meaning. Happiness is a big word. This is the more ecstatic state. It comes and goes. We have less influence on it  A high level of satisfaction with one’s own life – we can just call it happiness.

While temporary effects and events may often not depend on us – longer-term effects do. There are no details here. I like it exceptionally. After all, life is so unpredictable. This is also the charm of life.

Designing life in detail, how some people would like to do it – is incompatible with the nature of a very dynamic world. Jeff Bezos advises – be persistent in vision, you have, but be flexible with details.

This is also wise advice. It’s like having the direction of your course, but also being completely open to everything that life brings along the way. It’s about focusing on the things of the highest significance and not designing unimportant, background details. Bezos also emphasized that he is not one of the people living only here and now. I completely agree with him. It is the direction of sailing (my comparison) and its vision are important. I myself have also repeatedly questioned the excessive emphasis on just the importance of the here and now. Everything is important. Everything.

Personally, I think that both the great thinker Aurelius and the great entrepreneur Bezos had in mind the course of action and not the achievement, or not, of specific „stops” or goals. After all, it is not about waiting when we will be 80 years to feel this satisfaction – but about giving life a good direction and enjoying every moment, knowing that we are going the right way.

Subsequent successes are only a consequence of the chosen direction and consistency in small, everyday activities. Would the lack of success take away our satisfaction? No.

Is the fact that we see an island on the horizon, to which we are sailing but have not reached yet – does it make us less satisfied? No.

We’ll get there in some time. Easy. Then there will be another island and another ………. Since we know that we are doing exactly what we should and we have a very clear vision of it – this alone is the greatest success. Success – that we achieve at the very beginning of our journey.

So we get the award at the very beginning, and going further our joy from it does not diminish. Well, these are my words, based on the ancient thought „The way is the goal”.

It is important, I believe, that this path is satisfactory both now and looking back at it as well as looking at it forward. Everything is important.

JARO MAKOSZ

***

HIGH NEUTRAL ENERGY

Maintaining a high level of our neutral energy is extremely important. This is the energy state that characterizes us most often. A state when we are not subjected to any external stimuli.

Each of us has this NEUTRAL level. One person is neutrally stable and healthy. The other person has a depressive tendency. Yet another person is very unstable and nervous, etc.

It is enough to observe yourself and others to easily determine what is the neutral state of a given person. In other words – it is a state that we put ourselves into, without external factors.

This is a very important observation, because when we analyze our own tendencies, we can see what is really primary. For example:

– someone himself unnecessarily introduces himself into a state of nervousness and hyperactivity, when objectively there are no such external factors.

– someone is unnecessarily depressed when there are no such external factors objectively.

– someone unnecessarily puts himself in anxiety states, when there are no such external factors objectively

etc, etc ……

There are many examples. Therefore, it is worth ensuring that the neutral energy level is high enough to keep it at a safe, high level during normal mood swings, mainly caused by external factors (but not only). Then whatever happens – we are still well above the „0” level. Going below this level is unhealthy and risky to our health. This should absolutely be avoided. It’s like reverse gear in the dark. This darkness is level „0”. It starts to get dangerous for our health there.

Someone who has a high level of neutral energy, even in reverse, is constantly driving in the light area and can see all obstacles in the rear view mirror.

I don’t think I need to explain anymore. The figure below completes everything.

Person no. 1 puts his health at great risk when he goes in reverse – „R”.

Person number 2 has a good level of neutral energy. The same external stimuli will not cause her to go beyond the borderline „0”.

So keep your energy levels as high as possible in your natural and peaceful state. When I say energy, I mean mental energy first and then physical energy. Both are very important, but mental energy is the most important. This is because it is primal.

And now the most important: The neutral level can be changed – it only takes time and simple self-observation exercises. Keep your level at a safe height. Whenever you feel it lowering – pick it up again. It’s simple – you’ll see. That doesn’t mean you have to smile all the time. It is a state where you are calm, content, and well.

JARO MAKOSZ

***

DO THIS WITHOUT NEGLECTING THAT

Today you have the job you have. It may not be a dream job – but it is. You don’t have to do it for the rest of your life. The fact that you cannot see other perspectives today does not mean that one day they will not appear. However, do not neglect what you are doing now.

Be honest with those who gave you this job and with yourself. Don’t neglect what you do because you would prefer something else.

As someone wise once told me – „Do this without neglecting that.” Life is not a wish concert and take what they have given you. Life offers you this today, so do it and do it the best you can. Only people with such an attitude to life and work achieve successes. They learn where they are – what they have. You don’t even know how much of the things you learn in your current job may be of use to you in the future. Certain features and skills are very universal. Look at it this way.

If you know that you can do something else and you would like to strive for it, then that is absolutely fine. Work is a very important part of our life. It is worth putting a lot of effort into choosing the right one.

Try to prepare for the day you could start such work. Prepare as you would for a long journey. Take care of the details and exercise your imagination with the different scenarios. Try to take at least one small step in the direction that interests you every day.

Life is full of surprises and it can bring you unexpected opportunities to improve your situation – maybe even much faster than you think. But today you have what you have and don’t neglect it.

Meanwhile, learn and prepare. Don’t waste a day. Use this time well and be patient.

And as the words of a certain song say, „Wait for the wind – it will come by itself”. A day like this will come, and you …….. will be ready then.

***

THOUGHT – WRITTEN WORD – SPOKEN WORD

I did not accidentally choose a word as a means of expression. Whether it is a written word or a spoken word, it always begins with a thought.

If you can speak coherently, you can also write coherently. But that means first and foremost that you can think coherently. It is all one and the same.

Think, speak, write – you can do it anywhere. I started with this assumption over 30 years ago. Even in the most difficult situation – you can think, you can talk to someone and even write something. You can take thought and word with you wherever you go. Today I write almost everything on the phone, which I always have with me. So, my dreams of unlimited mobility and independence in this area have come true.

By exercising my mind, I am training myself with the word.

Conversely, by exercising the word – I am exercising my mind.

I do it in every everyday situation. I shape my thoughts and words in a methodical and conscious way – not accidentally.

The word is nothing but a spoken or written thought. So it is the closest medium between people. Closer than images, sounds, or any other means of communication. Thanks to the word, we obtain the highest level of proper agreement with the recipient. While images, sounds, or other forms of communication leave quite a lot of room for loose interpretation, the word is extremely precise. Even a movie, using the original words of the creator – can distort what he wanted to say. This is because the selected images already shape and thus change the original character of the message.

You can write or speak without even seeing and hearing. Even if you don’t have both – you can understand the content in Braille. Do you know another such medium?

There is text written in the photo below. It contains the thoughts and feelings of another person. Even now, without hearing or seeing – I would be able to read his message. How, you ask? With my eyes closed and ears plugged – I would write on a piece of paper a request that I want to learn Braille. Someone who reads this and decides to help me – will find someone else who knows Braille and I would ask that person to teach me this sign system. And so – the „A” I wrote on the piece of paper – would correspond to the „A” written in Braille. I would remember the shape of this letter – I would learn all of them ……. Then I would learn the language of this person, exactly the same way we learn foreign languages ​​- using only Braille (which I would already know). So it is possible. It only requires will.

Can you imagine that such a text could evoke the same feelings in another person that the creator had? If both have open hearts and minds, they will communicate that way everywhere. Even time isn’t the limit. They could live thousands of years apart.

It’s amazing that you could read such giants as Aristotle, Plato, Leo Tolstoy, or Victor Hugo in this way …….

Thoughts are a powerful force. Every action begins with them. Only love is more powerful than thought.

***

REST BEFORE YOU GET TIRED

Take frequent but very short breaks. This way, you will be able to go very far without draining your energy. To achieve this – you have to like both work and rest.

I have already emphasized the role played by the ENERGY OF LIFE.

Now I want to emphasize very briefly the role of rest. I recommend that you avoid situations in which you get „unhealthily tired”. Yes, -this is „unhealthy”.

My observations show that you can get tired both „healthy” and „unhealthy”. You will know it already during such an effort.

Healthy fatigue never leads to exhaustion. We barely stimulate the body to work better. As a result, it is healthier and stronger. This is how runners on 100m practice, for example.

Take a look at their silhouettes. They are healthy, strong and proportionate. The effort in this sport is short, intense and quickly followed by a break. I recommend the same to you in the case of mental effort. I believe the mechanism is very similar.

Unhealthy fatigue is a state in which the body becomes exhausted. Regeneration takes a long time and the balance of energy losses exceeds the balance of potential (and additionally rare) benefits. Take a look at the marathon runners. They are skinny, exhausted and without energy. Long-distance running exhausts the body. It is more about the endurance of the human psyche, not about health. Personally, I do not recommend it. The stamina of the psyche can be exercised in a different – more practical and useful way. Sometimes you see „marathon runners” in offices. They sit at computers for hours and overdo their work. They work very uneconomically from an energetic point of view. Their organisms are crying out to take care of them for a while, but some wild momentum makes them sit still. Consequently, looking at them in the long run, they are very exhausted, nervous, often get sick, and ultimately the work itself suffers.

If, when leaving work, you have two feelings at the same time:

I managed to do a lot today
I leave work and I don’t feel tired

This is what it means that you can work well. You are smart person. Congratulations!

And in other areas. If you have, for example, a well-composed set of physical exercises – 20 minutes is enough to stimulate the body properly. This is a separate topic, but at the moment I can only say that you should feel a significant increase in energy while doing such exercises. Get to know good physical exercise after that. You finish such a workout and have more energy than when you started it. This is how you know good training.

You can recognize a healthy meal by the fact that you feel an increase in energy while eating. Such a meal does not make you sluggish and lethargic. This is what you will recognize it by.

As for rest. Whenever you feel that you are starting to get a little tired, stop for a short time. Go for a walk, have a drink of water and maybe even coffee or tea. Think about something pleasant. Take care of yourself. Take a few deeper breaths.

Go to bed in the evening – before you feel even more tired.

Take such breaks often, but also remember to keep them short. Balance work – rest at certain intervals. A good proportion is, for example, 30 minutes of work and 5 minutes of rest. This way you will reconcile two things. You will take care of your energy state wisely and you will do a lot of work. Again, I repeat these words (which I found in one of the books that Dale Carnegie wrote) – „Rest before you get tired”.

This way you will keep your life energy for many years to come.

***

THE ART OF COMMUNICATING

Tonight I look at the moon, right in front of the window. It was a good sunny day. I also listened to a fantastic book. It’s really worth listening to. It is really about the art of understanding others and what is hidden under the mysterious word MINDFULNESS. Unfortunately, I found it only in English (nearly 5 million views!).

(19) The Art of Communicating – YouTube

***

1 HOUR a DAY

An hour is an hour. What will you spend it on – your business, but you can do a lot during this time, or really little.

Someone will spend this time passively watching TV – and someone else will do something that will bring them closer to the realization of their true dreams. What if it’s 2 hours or more?

Television often replaces silence and passivity. Takes you into a world where you are a spectator, not an actor, playing the main role in his own film.

So the choice is yours.

***

WAVES

I found in one of the books recently, such a sentence – „Problems are like waves ….. they never end”.

I thought about it a bit. And now you can approach it in two ways:

Option 1 – Someone, hearing this sentence, becomes more depressed and sees rather nonsense in the face of such never-ending problems.

Option 2 – someone, thanks to these words, understands the nature of the problems better and it helps him Realizing that this „waviness” is real – he does not complain about fate. This is the nature of the problems. You solve one – the second comes, then the third ….. and so on, ….. as long as we live.

In addition, you can realize that we are not the only one in this. Other people are also affected by this. Sometimes waves will be small and gentle, sometimes large and strong. It may also happen that the sea is calm, but you should be aware that this is extremely rare and expect it to be – it’s rather fun. Anyway, even then there are minimal wavelets. Human happiness does not depend on it.

You have to learn to solve problems and not wait. That habbit is important.

You have to approach them slowly, but wisely – saving your strength for whole life. First one problem (wave), then another (wave), then third (wave). Avoid dealing with multiple problems at once. It is more tiring and distracting. Sometimes there’s no other option, that’s true. However, as much as possible – you need to focus on one wave at a time. Solve this problem without downtime, because very soon will come another wave (problem). One has to understand well the one wave that has just come. Concentrate exactly on solving on that one, which come.

And not to complain that here comes another one.

The ability to solve these problems also gives us a sense of strength and self-confidence.

***

I LIKE MYSELF

Let’s be good to ourselves. Let’s take care of ourselves as best friends – and it has nothing to do with selfishness. It is a coherence between mind and body.

Organisms are smarter than their owners. So often people do not care about their body, health, mental hygiene. They smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, suffer from chronic insufficiency of sleep, live in stress that they create for themselves – and they don’t see it.

Meanwhile, their organisms are trying to defend themselves. The psyche of such people destroys their bodies, and their bodies take advantage of every opportunity to try to save themselves. The body tries to heal wounds, tries to rest – when a person makes it suffer.

Why such a lack of internal consistency and such a conflict in many people? Do they not accept themselves? Don’t they like themselves? Why are they not good to themselves? I ask myself such questions. It seems to me that this may be the case.

And what is at the root of such behavior …… mhmm – what always – pride. The treatment of your interior should always begin with removing pride.

Pride is not the same as a healthy Ego. A healthy Ego is good. It is your identity. Pride is not.

I think you have to be able to accept what is impossible to change in you – and forgive yourself the mistakes you make. Don’t live with them forever. Enough already. You have to try to fix them. Instead of struggling – now take each next step smarter. Slowly, ….without rushing – but wisely.

We all have our limitations. You just have to accept them. Concentrate on our naturally good sides – and develop them. Leave alone what we will only ever be average in. Only in this way can we give ourselves and others what we have the most valuable.

There are so many people wiser, prettier, more talented ……..

A hippo like this also has something cool about it. It does not impose itself, does not make noise, does not disturb others. He lives the best he can. We can learn something from him.

Let us just try to live our own way and let others do it. Without disturbing each other. Without comparing.

We often fail …… but we keep trying. Isn’t that more important?

Say to yourself at least sometimes in your mind – „I like myself. I like myself”. You have a sacred law of nature for that. And really like yourself. Be demanding of yourself, but also gentle ……… and above all – good. Then everything starts to fall into one meaningful whole. Moreover, we begin to value others more as well.

So – be your best friend to yourself.

***

SWOT analysis

Before you start any project, before you decide on a change in your life – do some kind of analysis.  Answer – is SWOT and it will help you identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Let’s start with the SWOT graph on Wikipedia – the coolest one I found.

I will explain the meaning of the word SWOT:

S – Strengths – our strengths

W – Weaknesses – to our weaknesses

O – Opportunities – to favorable circumstances

T – Threats – to unfavorable circumstances

As always, I will explain it as simply as I can – with an example. Because only the application of knowledge in practice makes sense. Imagine making a decision to build a house. Here’s what items may appear in this table:

A properly conducted analysis must include:

1. Clear goal. In this case, it is a decision: YES – we buy a building plot, or NO.
2. Clear evaluation criteria: In this case it is Satisfaction versus Cost.

CONCLUSIONS:

SWOT analysis is useful at a very early stage of creating a project. This remarkably simple chart shows that in this case purchase of a plot at this point is rather questionable and the costs will be high. You can see it clearly. Why do I think so? If I put a point such as a discount due to lack of privacy on one of the sides – it means that it is very important to me. Unfortunately, I will not change that. I will be not satisfied and this has no price, since I wrote about it. I am not able to change that either. The other two items from right bottom box are manageable. I can change the slope of the terrain by investing extra. Shops aren’t too bad if you have a car. After all, shopping is done once in a while.

Yes, I would not decide to buy a plot of land due to the lack of privacy and size of this plot. Satisfaction is the primary criterion in my case, but for someone else it may be price. He will come to terms with certain limitations, and they will even stop bothering him over time. So everyone can have different criteria.

The basic conclusion that I would point out here is the bottom right field. These are external elements that are not helpful. Very often we are not able to change them and we can only minimize them. The other fields – yes, we can work on them. After all, money – you can always earn 🙂

Hope this very simple method helps you with many choices. You can use it, for example, to choose a profession (look also a hedgehog diagram or Ikigai). Both in this case can complement each other perfectly. Remember that choosing a career is one of the few life decisions that are so important. Use it wherever you want. It is used by serious businessmen (like The Coca-Cola Company), so why not use it as well?

And if you need some more info:

***

LIFE COMPASS

I am still perfecting this simple tool that can be used in my life. Recently, I called it the Cockpit, or the Dashboard. I even wanted to call it a Road Map. Ultimately, however, it was the Compass of Life.

This simple – I completed with one more item – IDEAL. What is this all about? Straight. You have to write down everything you want to achieve – in this field.   I emphasize once again – its very important to write it down. It can be handwritten or from a computer entry. This is to sort out our ideas about this ideal state. We are not yet affiliated with it. Perhaps some items have already achieved some improvements. It usually is.

Everything that we write in the IDEAL field – helps us in rating on a 10-point scale of our satisfaction in every Area of Life.

You don’t need to write everything in the OK and More fields. It is enough to answer this question. That’s it.

You can start to use LIFE COMPASS. Print it.

It can hang on the wall, on the fridge, or wherever you like. Look at it from time to time. Let it be at hand. I believe that it will help you and will remind you of your life course and the way it is measured.

That’s it 🙂

file to download – CLICK HERE !

***

LESSONS LEARNED

When we fail in something – it is food for thought. We can only make sense of an experienced failure if we learn from it. This is what we gain in order not to make a mistake again. It seems so obvious, and yet not many people do. Or in short: „Experience teaches that experience teaches nothing?”

Don’t be one of those people who keep making the same mistakes. Don’t be one of those who cut the branch they sit on. There is a Polish joke about a shepherd (mountain shepherd) who is just carelessly cutting the branch he is sitting on. A tourist passing by says:

– You’re gonna fall.
– No, … I will not fall – replies the shepherd
– You’ll fall
„No … I won’t fall,” …. and continues.

Suddenly the shepherd fell. The battered man gets up from the ground and says to himself:

– Is he a prophet or who?

We laugh at such jokes, but we are no better ourselves. It’s just that we don’t see it so directly. Because how to name, for example, a man who smokes cigarettes? He destroys his health at his own request. If he does not stop, the disease is only a matter of time. Each puff of smoke is like dragging a saw along the branch on which it is sitting.

How to name a man who does not respect the people around him? It will turn against him faster than he thinks.

How do you name someone who still speaks badly of others? People will stay away from him, fearing that he will speak badly of them as well.

And so on and so forth…….

Because, as I mentioned before, I am looking for similarities between the techniques used in the production industry and life – also the word Lessons Learned has something to do with me. It comes from one of the failure analysis methods. It took off from military technology, but quickly moved to other fields, including the automotive, aerospace and many more. Because this method, called 8D – consists in the permanent elimination of the causes of the failure – it must end with a very clearly specified Root Cause and a Corrective Action. This is the essence of this method. I will emphasize once again the word „must” (and not cann !). The analysis cannot be closed if the final conclusions are not specified. And in everyday life? Unfortunately, here it often does not end with any summary and corrective actions.

Summary: If you do something wrong – be sure to find the cause and draw conclusions for the future – always, always, always. Only this way you could be better.

Seemingly so banal that it’s childish. It is true. So why is it still disregarded.

Always think this way. Search for the cause and do not duplicate the error. Take the trouble of this approach. It’s extremely unwise to keep making the same old mistakes. Making the same mistake for the second time should be the highest warning sign for you.

There is an Arabic saying:

„If something happened once – it’s very possible it will happen a second time.

And if something happened twice – it will almost certainly happen a third time „

Remember that…….”

Think for a moment, what mistake have you made already 2 times?

***

LIFE KAIZEN, LIFE KAIKAKU

I have been working in industry since 1998. I have gathered very different experiences related to the organization and development of products, projects and processes. Among the companies I worked for were Ford, Siemens and ABB. I can see some possibilities of applying the methods I have known – in our daily lives. Today I will talk about Kaizen and Kaikaku.

Below are the definitions that I explain based on my understanding and practical everyday use. They may not be exactly bookish, but this is where we add value to what we teach. We teach as we ourselves understand and apply something. Maybe just explaining this way – someone will understand it better. Someone else will do it differently – and that’s good too. And it will be a KAIZEN of the TEACHING METHOD itself 🙂

KAIZEN – it is simply „Road to continuous improvement”. It is even a philosophy of work, consisting in frequent improvement of smaller elements, e.g. in the production process. Here you can give an example of using a different tool – or improvement of an existing one, reorganization of a workstation, etc. KAIZEN is like an improvement often, but in small steps.

KAIKAKU – translated „Reform”. This method is based on a fairly thorough remodeling of larger elements, e.g. in the production process. You can give an example of a major reorganization of the entire production line, change of machines and even the entire technology. KAIKAKU is like an improvement in rarer but big, meaningful steps.

Both methods should complement each other so that they bring the intended effects on the scale of the company’s operation – and in a moment I will also say: life …..

I try to keep my texts as short as possible – so I will briefly say why I compare the company with our life.

Well, in life you can also ask yourself questions about KAIZEN and KAIKAKU:

How to do something better (qualitatively) ?
How to do something faster (without losing quality) ?
How to do something cheaper (without losing quality) ?
How to do something more energy efficiently (without losing quality) ?

KAIZEN OF LIFE (mine) – it is used by someone who will be even unconsciously improving everything in himself and in his space. He will strive to improve his skills, improve the organization of methods, organization of time, care for health, relationships, etc. (see here full Dashboard). He will also improve his environment – such as the place where he lives. He will even rearrange furniture until it reaches the optimum that will give him satisfaction. Sometimes it might seem that he has really done everything, but from time to time he will ask himself this fundamental question, „Can’t it be done even better?” And he will verify it again from time to time. If he decides that he is not at the moment, he will come back to this issue again later.

A KAIKAKU OF LIFE (mine) – every now and then there are more thorough questions, such as whether even a place of work, flat, or profession should not be changed. These are life’s turning points. Many people do not ask themselves these types of questions. They are very afraid of them. KAIKAKU is a real revolution. However, I believe that if someone really wants to fully develop their life potential – they should not be afraid to take on such challenges. Sometimes they are even necessary. This is because over the years we understand ourselves – and the world better. We get to know our abilities and predispositions better. So let’s ask ourselves from time to time a question about „Thorough Changes” of the kind of KAIKAKU.

As I like the analogy of the life path to the yacht’s course, so here I also summarize that KAIZEN is like a daily slight course correction based on what is currently happening. KAIKAKU can mean a sudden maneuver, e.g. when we are going to an unexpected reef, but also a good opportunity.

And the graph I made to better illustrate this:

This is what I have called myself – KAIZEN’S MIND. This is where it all starts – in the mind. In a deep sense of the constant need to improve everything. Some have it naturally, others learn it, others will never understand it.

Finally, a short story that I heard somewhere:

The prison guard asked Socrates, who was waiting in prison for the execution of the sentence:

– Why are you learning a foreign language when you will die in two weeks?

„Exactly for the same reason as before, in his youth,” – he replied …..

And this is an example of how the true KAIZEN MIND will work on itself always and until the end …

***

HOW WILL YOU BEHAVE

Life is not about being liked by everyone. You have to be able to make decisions in line with your system of values.

Sometimes such a decision means rejection by almost everyone. Often times, certain views are so popular that many are afraid to follow their inner voice for fear of harsh criticism or even rejection. This primal fear of being rejected by the „herd” causes them to become something other than what they are to themselves.

There are times when you need to be able to choose only one of 3 options:

I’m for.
I’m against.
I am not speaking or taking action (I am passive). But then others will make the decision for you. Those who will be more or who will be stronger. That doesn’t mean they are right. This is by far the worst option.
Whatever you mean now, do you have the strength to make decisions in harmony with yourself, without looking at others? 

***

CLEAR – MEANS FASTER

Brian Tracy once said something very important in an interview. Many times I have heard words from various coaches saying that it is important to have a vision of yourself and to clearly define it (in my case, the goal is the road).

But then he said it still differently. To this concept he added a thought that changes everything, but inconspicuous.

Caution:

„CLEARLY visualize your goals – FASTER you will achieve them.”

A piece is really good to understand. Those are big words. As if you know something about your direction so far, but you are moving in first gear. Now you can throw in more and see what happens …… amazing.

I experience it every day. I am moving faster and faster in the chosen direction of self-development. I experience it very tangibly.

***

HEDGEHOG DIAGRAM

Something like the Hedgehog Diagram and the Ikigai Diagram have been created – they help you choose your profession and life path correctly.

Your future depends on your decisions today – in 10, 20, 30 years. And I am addressing these words not only to young people, but to people of all ages.

So think it over well.

In the literature, there is the concept of „Hedgehog Concept”. However, I have recently also come across an Ikigai diagram – the source is the page of a person who is looking in life in areas very similar to me (I accidentally ran into it). It is run by Kyle Kowalski (www.sloww.co). I think he is doing a good job and I’d like to get to know this website more closely.

And here is a diagram regarding the choice of a professional path in human life, according to Hedgehog diagram. The area at the intersection of all the collections is the one you should choose.

And in my opinion, a more perfect version – the Ikigai Diagram.

Also, my version (I called it LIFE TASK).

It is the simplest. If you choose this path – you can have a strong wind in your eyes. Only a few will go this way – I know that. However, I believe that what we do best has been given to us in some way. Someone will say through nature, another through fate, and yet another – through God. This is the kind of gift that each of us has, but not everyone has discovered it. If you choose this path, you will start to understand yourself better and what you do will also become your passion – even if it is not today. Maybe you won’t be rich …… but you will never be poor either. Neither you nor your family. Just do that calling to the best of your ability – that’s all. Remember – DO YOUR BEST. There will always be people with you to help you. They will grow out of the ground. As sent by someone good. Do you want to find out? Ha … try it if you have the guts 🙂 It works. One thing is for sure – you will do exactly what you should be doing. The key is finding that gift and sharing it with others. This is what this is really about.

Finally, I will give you a little tip – the answer is in the eyes of the people you share with ……

***

TIME MANAGEMENT

DO NOT WASTE TIME

I would summarize all my knowledge of time management into this simple sentence: „Don’t waste your time.”

What does that mean?

Anything that does not lead to the enhancement of values (love, health, relationships and acting for the benefit of others) or resources (skills, time, money) is a waste of time.

It is a very simple and universal definition of time management. It is enough to ask yourself at any time: „Am I sure that what I am doing now is strengthening any of these areas?”.

So…. ?

You do not need to rush. It’s important that you don’t waste any time – whatever you do, whatever your type of activity.

Ask yourself the question – at any time:  „DO I HAVE TO DO IT ?” 

Anything you don’t have to do is therefore a waste of time. Losses, added to each other, are years to be wasted…. So avoid it and ask yourself that question often. Have eternal consequences, benefits and losses for returns – not short-term benefits. I believe that following this simple rule – you will go far.

This is how I understand time management. Not as constant planning and filling in appointments and notebooks, planning in dedicated software – but as avoiding wasted time. This type of approach allows me to improvise often and adapt to what I do to a given situation. Only one thing is important – AVOIDING TIME WASTE. It doesn’t mean rush – oh no. Quite the opposite. Each moment has its sense and taste. Don’t rush it. I am also happy to go back to moments from the past. Instead, I focus on avoiding unnecessary activities that do not add anything of value to my life.

I also recommend it to others.

However, there are also other, interesting schools on the subject of time management. It is worth reading at least one of the classic items – Brian Tracy „Time Management”

***

CONVERSATION

I’ve been studying communication techniques a lot lately. The quality of the conversation is extremely important. As it turns out, relationships with people are the second most important element of happiness (right after health and life energy). It is about relationships with your loved ones and with all the other people we meet. As for relationships, they are largely based on conversation. I learn to talk through questions. Socrates used this technique. I noticed that the interlocutor did not feel judged or instructed then. Moreover, he feels important to me when I ask him. This means that I take his opinion into account.

What’s also very interesting – through the answers he gives me, it can lead to some kind of self-reflection. Hearing his own answers that he gives me, he may realize that sometimes it is worth correcting something. The interlocutor says it to himself, because suddenly his ears hear his language. Nobody judges or criticizes him, but he can discover the true value of his beliefs himself …….. The art of asking the right questions can lead him to it. Socrates was right.

And now my most important discovery, which I found in one of the books:

„Conversation is not to convince someone you are right – but to exchange views and experiences.”

Yes – this is a good conversation. I learn it every day.

Socrates (the father of the philosophers) did not leave any writings and information about him comes from other sources. The most important are the works of the writers and thinkers who knew him: Plato, Xenophon and Aristophanes.

***

WE ARE ALL ALIKE

One of the things I have learned in my life is that all the people I meet are convinced that they are doing well. We speak different languages, …… we come from different places and we have a different history.

There are often unnecessary misunderstandings among people – …….. and sometimes even wars.

The way to avoid such situations is a deep attempt to understand why another person or a group of people behave the way they do.

I have been studying this art for years and the book by Dale Carnegie helped me a lot.

I know that I really want good and he wants good. We both really want well. Although sometimes these are two completely different opinions, each of us is convinced of our rightness.

Trying to understand the other person – at least trying – is a lot.

Link to one of the best books on human relationships. One can even say that its basic message is „How to honestly understand another person?”.

***

If in any area of ​​your life your own self-esteem of satisfaction differs from „10” – ask yourself – „Why?”.

I’ve done very different things in my life. One of the experiences I have gained concerns the analysis of errors in production processes. Among many others, they use a certain method called „5 Why”. I also use the same method in everyday situations to solve problems in areas of life.

It’s about asking the question „Why?”.

On the answer given, we  asks again „Why?”. And this question is repeated with each subsequent answer. Children ask in exactly the same way. They tire us with the question „why, why, why.” They keep asking until they get an answer that satisfies them and that they finally understand.

The name „5 Why?) Is conventional. In fact, the repertoire of answers can be exhausted after, for example, the third answer, or the other way round – it is not enough for us to ask even 10 times and further answers are given.

The purpose of using this method in design and manufacturing processes is to find the root cause. The most primal cause from which all the dominoes of successive errors began. It is that one that needs to be eliminated. All other causes are only secondary.

When looking for the root cause, it may turn out that we find several of them. The analysis grows larger and the response structure grows.

For each root cause, corrective actions must be defined – both short-term (immediate) and long-term. Then the effectiveness of these activities should be verified. In our case, effectiveness can be defined as increasing self-esteem on a scale in a given area of ​​life.

To better illustrate this method, let me give you a simple example:

Analyze the reasons for our poor performance in the area of ​​skills (this is about our unique talents that make us different). There can be two primary sources (1 and 2, in orange). Further analysis breaks column 1 into two consecutive sub-columns. Finally, the root causes are marked in yellow (there are no simpler answers). They must now be eliminated.

This method, although it seems very simple, can also lead you in the wrong direction. It is then said that the root cause is not properly defined. How do you know it? After the corrective actions did not fix the problem. You then have to go through the table again and find the real cause.

Someone will say – Well yes, but why complicate matters so simple?

Unfortunately, they are not that simple, and only adopting such a disciplined method and recording the results (which is very important) brings results.
The result of such an analysis can be very unexpected. This happens very often. It seems to us that the reason is so obvious – without any analysis. Meanwhile, the root cause lies elsewhere entirely. We’d rather stumble over it than find it Therefore, it is better to conduct such analyzes in a team of people, especially those who have extensive experience in this and are able to ask questions properly.

After you complete this analysis, you can say – yes, in fact – HERE is the real problem, not where I thought it was !!!!

So keep trying!

***

We all stand on the shoulders of giants

To really achieve something in your life in a professional sense – you need to put a lot of work, time and energy into it. But whatever is great is worth it. Nothing comes into being without self-discipline, regularity, attempts –  not always successful – on the contrary …

You have to be persistent and faithful to the chosen path.

But first you have to find it. It is in us – always.

Those who discovered it early enough in their youth have a big advantage. They can go further and learn more.

It doesn’t mean, however, that when you find your professional path later – you can’t follow it anyway. But by all means – go for it! Even if you have to change the crossover of your career – Change it!

Better late than never. At least try it !

Once, you did what you could and what the situation required. Each of these jobs taught you something new. …. Now you can use it. It was all for something. Every single experience of our life shapes us and it is thanks to this that we are here today. It was not professionally wasted time, but the time to learn and prepare.

Awaken in yourself the extraordinary power to do great things for which each of us is created. Don’t allow yourself to forget who you are – and give it to others. Only sincerely giving others what we have received as a gift is worth following. Each of us has it, ……. without exception.

Discover it and find your way.

JARO MAKOSZ

Today I recommend the book that I am reading now. It’s really good. I’ve heard a lot about it before, and now it’s for me the right time for that book. Tony Robbins honestly gives what he has to others – and people really appreciate it. It is no coincidence that it is so recognizable. He really has something to give – and gives people faith in their great abilities.

„Awake the Giant Within You” is one of the author’s absolute bestsellers.

***

„You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”

Recently, I found such a sentence from Zig Ziglar – an American writer and motivational speaker.

I ponder it because it has a deep meaning. This sense is in helping.

Once upon a time I wanted to change something in the world for the better. And I still want to.

However, I used to think that I would choose the path of convincing people to my point of view and that I should therefore influence them in some way. I felt that this means is thought put into words. This word can be spoken, written, printed, displayed on a computer or telephone screen…. I thought I would do the best.

However, I do not have all the knowledge or great opportunities. Besides – other people also have their truth and believe that they think and do well – just like me.

Today I know that it was not quite a good path. Today I know that I would just like to help people. Anyway, … wherever, … right away – as I can – and right where I am. To the first person from the shore, then the next… .. and then the next.

That’s it.

***

I sincerely wish everyone to find their way. I believe this path is through giving yourself to others. By giving – we get. If we have nothing else – we can always give our time and listen carefully. Time is a very valuable value, so by giving honest attention to another person – we are giving them something really valuable. We all need a little notice, appreciation, sometimes  just empathy. No judgment, no instruction, no criticism. We want to feel important. I have read a very wise sentence recently.

Someone wrote

„I don’t remember what we talked about, but I remember how I felt around him.”…… I’ve thought about it a lot in the last week.

JARO Makosz

I recommend one of my favorite books. I read it 5 times and listened to it many times in the form of the audio Book. I have learned a lot about human relationships from this book. It constantly helps me understand another person.

„How To Win Friends and Influence People”

Author: Dale Carnegie

CLICK ON THE PICTURE

***

HEALTH & ENERGY- PHYSICAL EXERCISES

When you do physical exercise at a young age – you give your body a signal – GROW. You will go through life with the shape you will develop in your young years – remember.

When you do physical exercise at a mature age – you give your body a signal – LIVE. By exercising wisely, you give yourself a second life. Wisely does not mean intense. At this age, you already know what is good for you and what is not. Personally, I recommend yoga, swimming, tennis, well-chosen strength exercises, short aerobic exercise – necessarily interval training.

I repeat this on every occasion – good training is one in which you immediately feel a surge of energy (never an outflow of energy).

I came to this conclusion after many years of different exercise programs. Unfortunately, it took me so long. I once read in one of the sports magazines – the words of Jet Li – a famous martial arts master from China. He said more or less the same, but with slightly different words. It was a breakthrough.

In an instant, I realized he was right.

It is not about fatigue of the body, but about strengthening and stimulating it.

Everything changed 180 degrees for me in an instant. After finishing the training, I felt stronger than before I started. It meant it was a good training. This fully confirmed Jet Li’s words.

He knew what he was talking about because he had trained thousands of hours himself. From that moment on, I changed my approach radically. Before that, I exercised 4 times a week for 2.5 hours. After reading that sentence – my training did not last longer than 30 minutes, but it was much smarter. Such training will give you health and joy in life. I also recommend you to look for your own path also in this area.

Do whatever – that’s something.

I intend to come back to this topic in the future and develop it much more. I would like to share my knowledge with you. The subject of physical exercise and my path in nutrition – will appear on the blog soon.

***

THE BEST VERSION OF ME

Become the best you can become.
Get on your own top. Each of us has a different one.
This is the realization of your life potential.
Discover what’s best in you.
Then perfect yourself at it.
And share it with others.

***

There are quite a few people who will always try to find the weaknesses of any situation first. They will talk about some negatives first, not positives. This is the first alarming signal. BE CAREFUL!

Usually, they also start the day with complaints, nerves and moans. As if it could not be otherwise. It is their daily morning ritual. They spread bad emotions around them. They cannot cope with them themselves – so they try to transfer them to others as soon as possible.

When you say something positive, they will immediately try to find a hole in it.

They will cover your days with clouds. At work, at school, at university – wherever you meet them. Don’t let them do that. Leave them alone.

If you really want to be successful – and I mean your life – avoid nervous and toxic people. They must first put themselves in order. Nothing to do with you. Don’t force them to change. Just step back.

Maybe someday, when they understand what they are doing (although it is extremely rare) – you will be able to get back into contact. Now take care of yourself.

Who you usually spend time with has a huge impact on the quality of your life and the direction you take in it.

I suspect you are not even fully aware – how big? So choose the company of people with a well-built, strong and harmonious interior. They – bring the sun into your life.

Relationships with other people are next to LOVE and HEALTH & ENERGY – the third most important factor influencing our satisfaction with life. Everything else is just resources, not values. Remember the COMPASS OF LIFE.

***

RELATIONS & COMMITMENT – basic rules

In my opinion, relationships with other people are based on a few very simple rules:

Don’t do to the other person what you don’t want. This is a very well-known and really proven principle. One of the fundamental rules that works in every situation. This does not mean at the same time – do for others what you would like to experience yourself. Although I used to practice this (in good faith), I must admit that it is not true, because others may expect completely different things than we do.

Interact with others for a good cause Carry out good actions with them for other people, the environment and nature. Don’t let things like nationality, skin color, political beliefs, or anything else stand in your way. Good is Good. It is above all.

Maintain the right balance between speaking and listening. When someone is reluctant to speak – do not force the silence. Maintain a balance of reciprocity. You can also be silent – remember.

Maintain as good a relationship as possible with everyone – without surrendering yourself and without contradicting your core values. We all really want to do well, but we often speak different languages. Everyone is sincerely convinced of the rightness of their actions. Sometimes you have to end the conversation with the words „I disagree with you, but well – let it stay that way”. Maybe in some time you will understand each other better. Maybe each of you will learn more and will look at things differently. A wise man will always say easily – I was wrong – if he knows he was wrong.

Newly met person – give a friendly hand. Always assume this stranger is good. However, if he rejects it, do not give it a second time. Take a step back. Further movements in relation to you, he needs to rethink.

Help others, but do not force yourself to help. Others should appreciate that you help them. If they underestimated it the first time, don’t do it the second time.

Share what you have with someone – but if you can see that he is not sharing with you – don’t do it a second time. The natural reaction of a healthy mind is gratitude for the good received.

Show appreciation for every little gesture you receive from others. They will surely see it as well.  When we see someone’s gratitude – the more we want to do something good. This is how good drives good.

Listen to others with attention, compassion, understanding and appreciation. In fact, all of us (without exception) need it very much.

Meet many different people and remember that you are always equal. None is more important than you. You are also no more important than him.. You come from different places and you have met for a while. Appreciate it.

…….I think it is enough ……

***

LIKE A YOUNG DOG

The young dog is interested in everything. He sniffs everything and stops somewhere every now and then. He doesn’t know what he wants yet, except maybe for one thing, he wants to know the world. And that’s very normal at his age. At some point, however, you should take a conscious path. We will never know the whole world, or even a small part of it. We already know ourselves much better. However, we already know enough to answer the question, „Who are you?”.

I see different people every day. What characterizes people of any success is their high concentration on the task. It’s hard to distract them. Even if you break them for a moment, they will soon try to get back to their work. They don’t get distracted every now and then. They do not waste time and energy unnecessarily.

And vice versa. I also meet people who seem to be blown by the wind, like leaves. Any situation or event – they are ready to pull them in a different direction. And yes, every now and then. Hours, days, and years go by. They have no direction.

What is life?

Life is just such a wind that throws us. But here we have a choice – to rely on chance and keep taking a new course – or try to return to the previously chosen course, despite great difficulties.

Realize your potential and stay on course.

Don’t be like that young dog, driven every moment by a different stimulus. Don’t read the headlines of random articles that internet algorithms have chosen very cleverly to distract you. Don’t check social media just to see if something has happened.  Don’t watch TV pointlessly.

Act in a planned and disciplined manner. Even when the wind pushes you far to the side. Get back on the course. And so come back and come back every time.

I believe not so much in the goals themselves, but in the course we are taking and in the daily, even small steps. Without a course, you won’t get anywhere. However, having a good course – life can only surprise you positively.

***

VAT – VALUE ADDED TAX

VAT – or value added tax ……… right – ADDED.

Although this abbreviation discourages many, I like it. This simple definition, contrary to appearances, says a lot. Moreover, it is completely in line with my understanding of business, work and any gainful activity. I do not believe in smarts, nor in counting on opportunities or relationships in life. These are not ways to build your future in the long term.

If you just translated something from the left hand to the right – then you did not add any value to it.

If you have enriched something with new features and given it a new quality or functionality – this is the added value.

Therefore, it is worth asking yourself the question – whatever we are doing – „Do I contribute anything to what I do” ?

Someone once told me something about my „Silesian ass”. It was about the inability to take advantage of the opportunity and lack of cleverness.

If life brings good opportunities and opportunities – take advantage of them. Yes, it is. Sometimes we don’t have too many of them and it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

But cleverness is too much. It is to outsmart the other in order to benefit only yourself. I don’t want that. Instead, I want to create value that will benefit me and others. I believe that the most.

Real business – it’s a WIN – WIN transaction (meaning everyone gains). This is a situation in which each party has benefited and is satisfied with the transaction. In this situation, everyone wins and no one feels harmed or used.

I believe that only self-discipline, study and persistent work can build real success in any field in the long term. Talent is also needed here, but without the former – even that is not enough.

To anyone who wants to be successful in the field they do – I would say exactly what I say to our son – „Give other people value.”

This is what value is all about. It counts. It is the value of a service, good or knowledge. It’s something that wasn’t there and you made it. It is something that increases the quality of life of another person.

I see deep sense in doing so. It consists in enriching what already exists with new elements or creating new things. It can also be the provision of services or the transfer of knowledge. The important thing is that you have enriched what you found in some way. You weren’t a speculator or a trickster, but you really gave something.

If you chase money and base your success on it, not with the goal of creating value for another person – you will lose. Money is not a value itself.  Money is only a means of payment. Do not forget about it.

If someone gives value to others and focuses on it – then money becomes only a natural consequence of the former. Money will follow such a man. He can be calm because he will never run out of money.

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FAKE GOALS

There is a lot of talk in the psychology of success about setting goals. I have already said many times that for me the road is more important than the goal. Goals are like road signs that we reach, we pause for a moment to enjoy their achievement – and we keep going in the chosen direction. Because that’s the direction it’s all about. However, if you touch on the subject of goals themselves – they should be really valuable. Never choose fake (false) goals – and it’s easy to fall into such a trap.

What do I mean by „fake goals”? It is money, social status, popularity, admiration, all material excess.

Sometimes even a personal coach tells you to imagine everything you want to have – as if you already had it – and you will achieve it. This is the law known as the „law of attraction”. There is no magic to it. It is only consciously programmed your subconscious mind in the direction you want. Then we really strive for it. This phenomenon has been known to science for a long time. Yes ….. this is how it really works and it is very effective.

But is this what you really want? An extremely expensive car, a fancy home, expensive travels, expensive clothes ……… and all that crap.

I know stories of people who were able to make their dreams come true, taken from television series about millionaires. Yes ….. they did it. But were their road, work and effort worth it? If they had dedicated it all to something really valuable, wouldn’t they have achieved incomparably more? Perhaps such apparent success is nourishing their vanity today. Do you want this? If so, well – you will be devoted to pursuing false goals, and no one will stop you from doing so. You will only waste your time and life energy. I’m just trying to warn you about this.

However, do you prefer more modest but more real way ?

Which road will you choose?

I want to tell you, before you start programming yourself for success – to choose goals that are really worthwhile. These are not goals that you will see the results of – outside. These are the results you will see inside the person. That’s what he will do for others ……. not for himself.

Set these goals and follow them.

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GOALS AT YOUR HANDS

Never set goals that are not up to you to achieve.

If you do, you will set traps, not goals. You will fall into them one day.

During the process of designing yourself – realistically assess your possibilities. If you lack skills – plan how to get them. Consider your advantages and disadvantages. Take into account favorable circumstances and threats. The SWOT analysis, which I am writing about here, could be helpful.

And ask yourself a very important question:

WHAT CAN I DO TO COMPLETE THIS?

maybe once again – for better understanding:

WHAT I…………… (I – means no others – but I).

NO MATTER WHAT OTHERS DO AND WHAT ELSE MIGHT HAPPEN – I HAVE NO INFLUENCE ON THIS.

I only have an influence on myself.

Then plan, follow through, and never give up on good things.

***

CLARITY and FOCUS

It is relatively easy for all of us to get to an average level of some skill – whatever that may be. However, going from medium to high is another matter entirely.

Improving your results by only a few percent is much more effort than going from zero to medium. The best in a given field are often only a few percent better than the average. So it’s a waste of time to deal with everything and nothing. If you want to be really good at something – two words are key: CLARITY and FOCUS.

As evidenced by the results of various studies – many skills require only about 21 days of work on them, which translates into about an hour of work per day during this time,

I will add something from myself (my experience) that it is even better to work in sessions of 30 minutes, but twice a day (morning and evening), for about 3 weeks. Entering the level of „mental flow” takes about 20 minutes. I think that’s why TEDx speeches do not exceed 20 minutes. Listeners „go” from zero to being fully focused on the content at this time.

However, I want to ask a simple question in this post:

„Since we already know that it is not so difficult to climb to the middle level – all you need is wisely organized and adequately intensive work – why, however, most people will be satisfied with the average (and often mediocre) level and will not want to develop further?”

Unfortunately, the answer is simple – human nature is lazy and we all want to achieve as much as possible with as little effort as possible.

I can conclude that we learn new activities in the first few weeks of our work – and then there is a stagnation phase. We begin to float without deepening our knowledge or skills. It is a waste of potential.

The clarity of your vision of yourself as a professional is very important here.

Personally, I think that it is worth devoting yourself to exploring one area of ​​your activity in a special way. Getting to know others can only give us a general view and supplement the basic one. However, you need to know very precisely what it is. And then try to be systematically better and better at it.

Finally, a link to the video that sums up well how easy it is to go to the average level. Sometimes it is enough for us, yes. However, it should never be enough for us in the field we really choose. Only one word counts here – EXCELLENCE. With every step you take, you get better and better. Don’t settle for mediocrity – be EXCELLENT.

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WHEN YOU KNOW HOW MUCH IS REMAINING – IT IS EASIER TO SURVIVE AND WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY

Not long ago, while driving a car, I realized a certain pattern that works both in our behavior on the road and in our private life. It is a technique that makes it possible to survive the toughest. Knowing that – it will be very useful to you.

I got to the semaphore above the middle of the intersection. There was a red light. There was a counter under the semaphore, counting down the seconds until the light changed from red to green. When we moved – from the moment the light turned green, the timer also turned green and now counted down the number of seconds until it changed again – this time from green – to red.

And what is my conclusion today?

I have drawn 4 conclusions from this simple experience:

• Everything passes – both good and bad. Just like the light changes from red to green, or from green to red. Nothing takes too long and everything will pass.

• After good things, bad things come. And after bad things are good. Just as one color of light changes another.

• When you know how much time you have left, it is easier to endure suffering.  You know it’s time to rest after that. These breaks and changes don’t last long.

Remember, no suffering is so great that you cannot survive until sunset – until you go to sleep. Knowing this makes you become stronger. It’s like exercising. You shape your character and mental and physical resistance.

There is a tradition in Poland that soldiers have a tailor’s meter, from which they cut off one centimeter day after day. This makes it easier for them to stay on the „final straight”. This is where the hardest thing is. This simple and proven technique really helps them.

I think it is exactly the same as what I am writing about here. If you know exactly what you want to achieve and measure it, and your goal is realistic – you have a great chance of achieving what you want. So be patient and calm.

• If you know how much good time you have left (green light) – you will make better use of the time you have left – for what is most important. It’s like knowing what time your train or bus is leaving. It’s like knowing what time your ship will leave. You know he will sail away – with or without you. And that’s what makes you organize yourself smarter. You set the path, goals and priorities. You adjust what you want to do – how much time you have. So work in such „time blocks”. Determine exactly what you want to do with the time you have. I have often been put in situations where I was expected to do something in a time that was well below what was required. To do this job really well – this activity required, for example, min. three days. I was given 2 hours. Then I said – „I will do it as it can be done in 2 hours. If you give me 8 hours – I will do it as it can be done in 8 hours. If you give me 3 days – I will do it as possible I can do it in 3 days. If I have a week – I’ll do it as best I can, because that’s the only way I like to work and only it makes sense. „. Well … so I was given 2 hours, for example, and I was within them. However, I knew that what I was going to do would be more an outline of the work than its fruit. I was not always able to decide what to do and at what time. However, since that was the will of my employer – this is how I did it. At other times, I was accused of excessive perfectionism. For me, it was not excessive. In really important matters, such as security, there is no margin for doing something superficially. To do something really well – you have to predict the right „time block”. One day, however, I will devote another text to this issue. For the moment – that’s enough.

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DEVELOP EVERYTHING AT THE SAME TIME

I have never been a supporter of the view that to achieve something, you have to sacrifice something else in your life. Something at the expense of something. When I hear it, something immediately does not suit me here. A well-directed life requires no sacrifice. On the contrary – all elements complement and support each other. This is the only right way.

Many coaches say that now you need to work hard and make a sacrifice. After that, however, it will be fine and you will achieve what you want.

If this is what life, work and achievement should be like – I’m not into it. For me, every moment must be complete. Whether it is a moment of work or rest, no moment can be paid for another moment for me. Which does not change the fact – that every single moment has its own individual meaning.

A wise person will find time every day for a good job, for family, for himself, for contacts with people, for developing his skills and earning money. It will all find its place and stay in balance. Each day he will take a small step in each of these areas. And so she will go through life.

And remember – don’t put anything off for later.

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LIFE ENERGY UNITS

It’s amazing how many people can care so much about their money – while not caring about their energy. If they only reversed the proportions, how much would their lives gain from it?

Our culture has reevaluated the value of money as a measure of life’s success. Success is associated with wealth.

People often confuse natural needs with unnatural ones.

What is an example of a natural need – eating as much as you need. Both the poor and the rich will stop eating as soon as their hunger is satisfied.

What is an example of an unnatural need – to accumulate property, to accumulate property. In order to flaunt it. Not to help him or to do something good this way. It is the confusion of having something – with value.

There was once a science fiction movie in which units of your own life energy were the legal tender. What if you looked at it this way? After all, in practice – it really is. You want to achieve something material – you have to pay with money. However, in order to get money – you have to give your energy – physical and mental. In fact, we’ve already reached the state of this movie a long time ago. We only have an intermediate stage, which is money. Only if we take this stage – we suddenly realize that we are actually paying with our lives.

It’s not worth spending your energy on nonsense. It should not be destroyed with addictions. It should not be strained by unnecessary nervousness, addiction, lack of rest or poor-quality food. This is incomparably more important than money. Our energy is priceless. Its level has a direct impact on true (non like having money) level of our satisfaction with life.

The energy of life is a value that, right after love, is one of the three values ​​we have. The third is relationships with other people. More on that here.

***

A PIECE OF DRIFTING ICE FLOE

You hold on to a small piece of ice floe and drift. You are afraid to leave it, because this piece of ice is all you know and it seems to you that it is at least reasonably safe. Really?

Meanwhile, the piece of ice that you consider your land is neither really comfortable nor safe – you know it. Was this what you wanted in your life? Have you ever dreamed about this? ….. Don’t deceive yourself ….. This is not what you wanted. Inside you feel that you should have left it sometime, Once upon a time. Do it to really improve your life.

So why don’t you do it? It’s simple ……. you are very scared. You prefer the quality you know and the pain to endure – to the risk and the chance of winning your life.

Your instinct is telling you that there is great land on the horizon. ….. Or is it just an illusion? The night draws its fantasies. You don’t know what awaits you.

Maybe you will drown? ……. It is quite possible.

Maybe the orcs will kill you? …..It happens.

The water is so cold that you may run out of strength shortly after you leave …… That’s exactly what it is.

The stakes are high.

You can stay and wait, or you can give yourself a chance and go on anyway.

People would like guarantees of success. They are afraid of the risk.

There are no such guarantees.

Therefore, most people will never leave their piece of ice floe. So are their parents, and so are their parents’ parents. They will drift like this …. for the rest of their lives.

They work in places where, instead of using their true potential and developing it further, they passively stay afloat. They’re just selling their time for money. They feel bad there, but it’s only 8 hours a day. It is bearable. You will know them by counting the days to Friday (Friday, Friday !!! , as they say), waiting for the next longer weekend. Someone who says that and thinks ……. is already a loser.

Meanwhile, good work does not tire and gives energy, joy and satisfaction. Because we share the best of us with others. And they feel it and react to it. This is what makes sense.

Such people also often live in the wrong places, or live among the wrong people. Being around others has a huge impact on our quality of life. It can bring suffering or joy and fulfillment.

It’s a tough and risky decision – …….. I know.

To give yourself a chance to change – you must enter the icy water first and push yourself away from your only raft …… Then swim into the dark.

I knew a lot of people drifting on such an ice float. Sometimes several on one, ……… until there was no room. They never dare to make serious changes. They are strong with words ….. but that’s about it. Such a vision scares them. And therefore they will never know that they could do much more. Such people don’t win their lives.

You can do otherwise. As long as you are alive, it is never too late to try.

And one more thing. Before you leave this drifting ice floe – the only safe place you know – be as prepared as possible. Don’t float out like crazy, but do your best.

And then swim – Give yourself a chance. Do it !

***

IMPORTANT DECISIONS

A person subjected to suffering is unable to think soberly. His assessment of the facts and decisions made are inadequate to the situation, illogical and very often wrong.

It seems so obvious, but we often do not realize it in practice. This is because suffering has many faces and does not always have to be so spectacular.

Sometimes suffering is prolonged (chronic) to the point where we begin to „get used to it” – treating it as normal. However, this is an abnormal state and one should strive to normalize the situation as quickly as possible, instead of trying to adapt to it.

Enduring pain is the last resort. Whenever a problem arises, you have to ask a very specific question, „What am I going to do about it?” (this must be a self-learned, automatic question) – not „How to adapt to this problem?”. It means being active, not passive.

Finally, good decisions can only be made when you feel inner peace, consistency, harmony and satisfaction with life. You must avoid making important decisions in any other state.

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5th GEAR – UNLEASH YOUR TRUE POTENTIAL

You see, many people, after returning from work, think about turning on the TV and relaxing. Sometimes they will do something near the house or garden – to make it look nice. Sometimes something by the car. Someone there wants to use every moment to earn extra money and works thoughtlessly and pointlessly, running in the wrong direction. And that would be it.

Mostly – people do not ask themselves WHY ? they chose these and not other goals. They fix them, but they don’t know WHY ? …….Meanwhile, this is the most important thing.

Only now, after returning from work – you can start your scope of proper work. You’ve put your gear into four gears at work. Now you put in the fifth.

Hardly anyone does that. Over time, this may become your primary and most important professional occupation. Perhaps you still have to wait – and learn something new. In that case – learn.

If you want to achieve something – this is how you work. And remember – do not confuse success with financial results. These are two completely different things, although this is usually what society has used to measure success. Success is doing what you have the natural ability to do, and you do it best. This is what the world needs from you.
You didn’t get it by accident ….. So realize your true potential. More here.

JARO MAKOSZ

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LIFE JUDO

Judo, which I have practiced in the past – as in many other martial arts – is often about first throwing your opponent off balance and then taking full control over him. In everyday life you will meet many manipulators who use a similar technique. First, they will try to upset you or, on the contrary, to smash you with manipulative praise. It’s like pulling a kimono … Forward, backward, sideways …… What do you say?

Then, such a positively or negatively broken man is easier to pull where the opponent wants. Be careful about. Being aware of such practices will make you a stronger person. Be guided in life by good – not someone else’s opinion about you. You know who you are. Let neither criticism nor praise be enough to throw you off balance.

You also do not have to explain to anyone what you do. You know why you do what you do (This last sentence is already from Marcus Aurelius).

Anyone for whom someone’s opinion of him is more important than his own – is like a dog on a leash, dragged to where his master will lead him.

JARO MAKOSZ

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UNKNOWN FRIEND (RELATIONS & COMMITMENT)

It is amazing how each individual person adds value – to our great human family. Here is an example of what I experienced recently from a friend I did not know.

I had a problem with introducing graphics in one of the computer programs. So I was looking for information on the internet. Finally, tired – I found myself on YouTube and also asked a question that bothers me there.
I found a few minutes of material that initially seemed to cover my problem. So I went in and started watching.

Already at the very first moment I understood that the boy who recorded it had some speech problems. He was probably disabled. It didn’t bother me at all, however.
Almost as quickly, I recognized that he had another ability that was incomparably more important than speech. The way in which he approached the subject was testimony to his very coherent way of reasoning and his rare ability to translate difficult matters into simple words. His only problem was the difficulty of speaking itself.

The movie was very concrete. He showed what was going on immediately. The boy who created it did it in a very professional way. First, he briefly said what he would teach me. Then he walked me through the process, recording picture by picture. He paused for a moment on more important points. And finally we came to the point that interested me. The film was approximately 3.5 minutes long. Efficient and understandable. This is how the mind of a real engineer works.

I was delighted. ………. and extremely grateful. I immediately felt the need to write to him and thank him. I’ve also seen comments from other people. All of them, with the same spirit of gratitude, thanked him sincerely. The film was watched by several thousand people from Poland, because it was recorded in our language.

Here’s what real added value means. This boy shared his knowledge and skills with us. He also shared his time. I am convinced that one day he will have a good job and that he will be successful. He develops what he does great – and then shares it with others. This is what choosing a professional path is all about. The money will come by itself one day ….. one day. They will follow the added value.
Judging by the voice – this boy is maybe 17 years old. Everything is still ahead of him. I keep my fingers crossed my friend!

„Each of us brings our added value. Each of us is for something.”

JARO MAKOSZ

***

TIME MANAGEMENT – MY FEW RULES

Time is a very valuable resource. Unrenewable and mass-disregarded at every step. Here are some of my time management principles. I have developed them over the course of my life. I consider this an invaluable lesson that can change your life.

It is true that time is not a value in itself, but thanks to its proper management – you can devote a lot more to the implementation of the 3 values ​​(love, health and energy, relationships) and developing the other 2 resources (skills, money). More on that here.

Here are my advice:

1. Try to intuitively know what time it is. Check every now and then to make sure you feel well with the time. You will see that with practice – you will judge it more and more accurately. It’s just a matter of practice. You will be surprised with what accuracy you are able to estimate it.
2. Take your time, but also don’t be too slow. Do things at their natural pace. Some require a faster pace and others a slower pace. It is essential to have a good understanding of what you are doing.
3. Convert passive time into active time.
   Example: You are driving a car – listen to educational materials, interviews related to your field of activity. You can do the same at other times, such as waiting in line somewhere or walking. Try to have the topics of these materials prepared in advance, so as not to waste time searching for them.
4. Optimize every single step, thought, action. Don’t waste them. Remember that even when something did not work out for you – it is worth giving it some shape, character, or even the final conclusion that will make you something smart in the future. It’s a valuable experience – I call it Lesson Learnt. More on that here.
5. Do much fewer things, but much better. Go beyond mediocrity, but also beyond exemplary performance. Be brilliant at it. The best as possible. Stop taking care of secondary issues immediately. Stay focused like a narrow and powerful laser beam on what matters most.
6. Every morning, when you arrange the day – write even on a simple, small piece of paper – tasks for the day. Then fold this piece of paper and put it in your pocket. You can visit it during the day whenever you want.
   Lady, don’t treat these tasks as something that absolutely needs to be done. If there are other circumstances and more important things – change the order, or even abandon them, for something more important. You will do it tomorrow – difficult. There is a rule of common sense in everything. So, above all, be smart and flexible.
   This written sheet is not meant to remind you of anything (so that you do not forget). She has a completely different goal – it supports your concentration. I would compare it to the high jumper’s concentration just before making the jump. He thinks about it, gathers strength, concentrates. Thanks to the fact that you write down your action plan – your concentration is maximum. Being aware of key tasks – you optimize subtasks. So write down what you want to do. Prioritize what you want to do and put the paper in your pocket. Take a look at her every now and then and concentrate.
   Of course, you can also have your own schedule with tasks for the next days and weeks, you can use the planner on your phone, Outlook … and many other fantastic tools. However, the card is the basis. I am a supporter of the simplest possible solutions that can be used almost anywhere.
   Write only a few things on it, but really important ones. The rest will sort itself out during the day – you’ll see.
7. Take care of very little time savings. I call these optimizations micro-savings, as opposed to micro-loss of time. You will notice a lot of both of them. However, by observing your behavior consciously – you will be able to systematically change it.
8. The last and the most important – at every free moment, think about how to do things better, smarter, faster and more effectively – even a little bit each day. Let the habit of continuous improvement accompany you both in better organization of your time – and in your entire personal development process. This habit is the most valuable of all.

„A chess grandmaster, he once said – Over the years and experience, I appreciate the smallest chess pieces – pawns … more and more.
Over the years, I appreciate the seconds, breaths and every single step I take – going my own way. Before, I was pretty carelessly raving about it all. The time has come for a change, however. „

JARO MAKOSZ

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BE FOCUSED, SIMPLE AND CALM

Don’t deviate from the axis. Focus on what you were supposed to do. It requires certain character traits. Now that it’s so easy to get distracted practically everywhere, especially on the internet and on TV, the qualities of concentration and self-discipline are especially important. You were supposed to do one thing – and suddenly you do the other. Be careful about.

Start the day calmly and gently. Don’t look in the media, don’t read e-mails, don’t listen to the news. Focus on yourself first. See how much strength is in you. Morning builds your mood.
Don’t let anything disturb your inner peace and clarity of thought. This clarity of thinking and concentration on a very small amount of things, but done in a way that is far above average, is your way.
Few people are able to give up temporary distractions. You can do it. Remember – if you do things like most people do – you will get results probably not much different from most people. It seems quite logical to me.

Build your skills based on focused specialization. Don’t be good, don’t even be very good. This is not the way. Be excellent – the best you can. Let the greatness of what you do be like your personal signature.

„In the morning, prepare your mind first, then your breath and body – and then act.
Every time during the day you deviate from the axis of what is the essence of your action in life, say to yourself „Go back to work ….. Go back to work”. It really helps – I checked. The results will come by themselves and will surprise you pleasantly”

JARO MAKOSZ

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WHAT’S WEALTH FOR?

The amount of money we really need to meet our needs is actually quite small. However, people chase money primarily to compensate for certain shortcomings. It is about a feeling of low self-esteem and a feeling of not having something that they have missed in the past. These are two real reasons. I do not see any more. The need for power does not necessarily go hand in hand with money, which is why I have dismissed it as the true root cause.

I will repeat this observation again – the pursuit of wealth has only two reasons:

• A feeling of low value – which money apparently raises as a measurable value – but only among people who are similar to themselves. This sense of illusory enhancement with money can quickly turn into the other extreme – pride.
• A feeling of once-experienced scarcity – which, thanks to money, can quickly turn into the other extreme – excess.

„Money itself is neither good nor bad. Good or bad can be the use of some of them. We need them, but they are not our goal and success”.

JARO MAKOSZ

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6 POWERFUL MEANS TO INSTANTLY IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH AND ENERGY

There are 6 basic elements that are the foundation of health and energy (both mental and physical). Here they are:

WATER
SLEEP
BREATHING AND MOVEMENT
HEAT
NUTRITION
SILENCE

They constitute the area described here.

If you only remember one thing from this post of mine – let it be this set of 6 photos. Take a good look at it – and then remind yourself of it from time to time. It is really a lot. I do it myself – that’s why I recommend it to you as well.

It is very important to ensure the proper quality and quantity of these ingredients. But as is usually the case in life, we’ll stumble over something sooner than we notice it.

So the truth is that the vast majority of people drink too little water. Drinking tea with a meal or coffee is not the same. It is water that is one of the media in our body. Much has been written about it, so I will not repeat myself. I totally subscribe to it.

So the truth is that we sleep too little. We do not sleep well. And that adds up. Even a few more minutes of sleep is of great importance. You can’t sleep it off during the day or weekend. We’re robbing ourselves of sleep. I am also talking about myself here, because of all 6 elements I am writing about – this one is unfortunately neglected. I often work mentally until late at night. This is the time when I find a great level of inner concentration. Unfortunately, I have to get up early in the morning and I am not always refreshed enough. So I sacrifice something for something. This is a mistake. I imagine, for example, that I will write a short but good text for a blog. Instead, I write long one and revolve around the essence of what I want to say. My mind is not always clear enough to express this. As a result – I write much more than I would like ….. My problem is that I write too much (too lengthily). It takes a long time. Being able to express your thoughts is a process ……. it is learning over time. However, I am working on it and measuring my progress. I know that I will also be able to eliminate this problem over time.

So the truth is, we can’t breathe. Seemingly so banal, yet we cannot do it. Likewise, we must learn to walk, eat, talk, think ……. Yes.

As for exercise, many people here could write books, and many do. I was looking for a straight path for a long time and I can systematically share my knowledge on the blog.

So the truth is, we underestimate the role of the body’s inner heat. I often see someone losing it unnecessarily. It is not about walking in unnecessarily thick clothes, but about avoiding the body’s heat energy loss. It’s not just body temperature, which we’ll just measure with a thermometer, says it all. There is some kind of inner warmth that we feel regardless of it. When it is – we are healthy.

So the truth is, often people care more about the taste of their food – than about its value and quality. The role of food is primarily to nourish the body. So apart from the taste – you have to focus on this value.

So the truth is, during the day we deal with a lot of unnecessary sounds that take away our attention, concentration and energy. Sometimes it is very easy to get rid of this sound trash … and it is worth taking care of it. This gives noticeable results immediately. Energy is not only in silence, but also in good sounds. This is what you should look for. Sometimes the right music in headphones is an invaluable source of energy. It’s pretty easy to do nowadays.

Now let me ask you a few questions:

Do you know how much is the right amount of water for your body?

My advice: So that your saliva is not thick and your urine is very light. Only when you achieve such a state – you know that the body is hydrated and flushed. Start each day with a large glass of clean, good-quality water. Then drink as often as possible throughout the day.

Do you know how much sleep is enough for you?

My advice: It’s just that when you go to bed around the same time – you wake up without an alarm clock. You sleep as much as your body physiologically needs. Sometimes it will need a little more and sometimes it will need a little less, depending on a lot of things. However, it is important to go to bed early enough. This is the key.

Do you know what it means to breathe well?

My advice: Breathe like „the lowest part of your belly” – the so-called diaphragm breathing. Then you will feel how a huge amount of air you are able to introduce into yourself. With it, you supply yourself with an increased amount of life-giving oxygen. Begin the day with these breaths while you are still lying in bed. Don’t jump to your feet right away. Wake up slowly. Then breathe like this on a long daily walk. Breathe very deeply, slowly and calmly. You don’t have to be a yogi right away – that’s not the point. The point is not to breathe „the diaphragm” all the time, but to do several series throughout the day. This can be done in the morning, then during various breaks, walks, before going to bed. That’s a lot. Simply breathe naturally but much deeper. That’s all. Work on consciously improving the quality of your breathing. This can be learned. We have to learn even such a seemingly easy thing in life. Yes, we can’t do that. I learned to walk at the age of 15 and I learned to breathe at the age of 40. Believe me, it can be done. Think about how many times in your life you take a breath, and how it affects literally everything. Unfortunately, it is sometimes so underestimated.

Physical activity should always go hand in hand with proper breathing. Good activity is one that brings strength immediately, and not after a period of rest and recovery. You don’t need to push your limits. Just listen to your body and psyche. And strengthen them with small steps.

Do you know what heat means for your health?

My advice: Never let your body cool down. Remember this especially while you are sleeping. When you wake up in the morning and feel healthy warmth, it is fine. The laws of physics tell us very simply that energy turns into heat and heat turns into energy. This was discovered a long time ago and is represented by physical formulas. This is true of physical phenomena, the operation of machines and our organisms.

If you feel cold – you can even drink warm water. It is a rare custom in our Western culture. The Chinese, on the other hand, know the value of this practice. It is worth learning. It’s a simple and healthy way.

Do you know what good nutrition means?

My advice: I will elaborate on this topic one day more, because here too I have my way. For sure, I can emphasize in a few words at the moment that good nutrition is characterized by a variety of foods and providing the body with basic nutrients – i.e. carbohydrates, proteins and fats – all at the same time and in every meal. Their proportions may vary depending on different things. However, they should always occur simultaneously. Only such a meal is full. You should also take care of providing the body with vitamins and minerals. I am a supporter of the natural form. Supplementation should come into play only in exceptional situations, when there is a strong deficiency of some ingredients. It may be short-lived and should be withdrawn as soon as possible. Finally, I would like to add that a good meal, as well as a good physical training, is characterized by the fact that we immediately feel well after it. Not in half an hour, an hour, etc. – but immediately. These are the meals you should choose. We also feel then an internal surge of heat and energy. This is the right way.

Do you know what silence and sonic hygiene mean?

My advice: Silence is a state in which you hear yourself and your thoughts. Make sure you have a large dose of quiet surroundings throughout the day. It does not mean living in silence all the time. However, you have to consciously create it. Random sounds and noises – they force our bodies to react involuntarily, and this takes energy each time. The noise is tiring.

Also avoid the company of noisy people. They destroy their energy, but also mindlessly destroy the energy of others.

Individual noises may seem imperceptible, but overall this is quite a lot. Unnecessarily sounds distract unnecessarily. We have to restart our thought processes. There is no such thing as „multitasking”. Man thinks in series, not in parallel. It can only switch between activities slower or faster. However, it is always paid for with energy, time and quality of the activity performed.

I hope I helped you with something.

Now take a second look at the collection of photos in the header before you leave this site.

JARO MAKOSZ

***

Almost 50 years of life, studies, learning and experience – to draw such a simple drawing explaining everything …….

You can imagine this construction as a pyramid made of wooden blocks.

– The first 3, colored, at the bottom – these are the values – they are important.
– Another 3, blue, at the top – these are just resources – they mean nothing by themselves.

If you put them in a different order – the structure will be less stable. In extreme cases, it can even be extremely unstable. Try to arrange these blocks in a different order and you will see the center of gravity go up and the base area shrink. Then look around and think – to whom is this structure similar? You will probably find people around you who have opted for this (other than the one below) arrangement of blocks.
We know one thing from physics – that the stability of such a structure deteriorates. Only one type of setting is the most stable – just like the one below. It is that one, that I have always believed in and still believe in – with all of myself.

I bring all my philosophy and all my achievements to this drawing. I think about it in the morning, during the day and in the evening. I think about what I have already done and what I intend to do this day and in the future in each of these areas. It is thanks to this that I navigate my life.

THE END

„PHILOSOPHY OF SIMPLICITY”

***

If I were to say what a good employer is, then looking back – I can say that they were the employers who let me make a mistake … and forgave me.

These are the ones who, after all, did not lose their trust in me.
They did not exaggerate with control and believed that I could do really difficult and responsible things.

But I can say something about it because I saw a little. I have worked in such concerns – such as Ford, Siemens, ABB . These are only the more famous ones.

However, I have worked in different places and in different industries – with very different people. Among them were Poles, Hungarians, Germans, French, Italians, Swedes, Americans, Australians, Koreans, Japanese, English, Mexicans, Indians, Brazilians, Chinese, Greeks … maybe I’ll stop here – because I don’t have a card.

And it was not a temporary cooperation, but a really long-term, often everyday, ordinary work – with people from all these countries … and everything I wrote about – worked well.

Entrusting the right person with the right tasks – and then trusting them… And that’s it.

I recently read a sentence somewhere like this:

„The right people are not the ones you educate – but the ones you find”

Yes – they become found.

And I would only add one thing to this wise sentence.

„The right people can be taught anything. What matters is their basics – who they are – even before they learn anything.”

Knowledge can be like a weapon you put in someone’s hand. It should be given responsibly.

I recently watched on Netflix – a great movie –Inside Bill’s Brain – (link below the text). Gates is one of the people I admire. Not because of his fortune, but because of his consciousness.

Bill thinks in terms of „WE” – not „ME”.

Why did I put in the subject of this movie? Because I remembered his last words:

„It is not what you have that is important, but what you become.”

For me, it’s like closing a time loop. Because who we are becoming is what we have always been. We are only enriched with experiences ….. more self-aware.

Who we are at the beginning of the road is more important than anything that happens later. And by living a good life – looking back – we can then say

„We became what we should become. The best form of ourselves. We became what we were from the very beginning. We lived in harmony with our own nature and did everything we could.”

As for the selection of the right employees, I think that’s why in many serious companies – recruitment takes so long.

Recruitment is a very sensitive moment in the company’s operations. Who you let in – a lot depends on it. The people it will be built of will depend on its culture, effectiveness and, finally, success. The wrong people can stay with such a company for years – and destroy it imperceptibly instead of enriching it.

Not only that – they will later let people like themselves into it.

I try to ask myself the honest question „What is the added value I bring to this company?”

What does that mean? It means what I managed to improve, make what we do more and more perfect and simpler at the same time. This, however, must always go hand in hand with the right attitude towards other people. Co-workers, superiors and those for whom we are responsible. Because managing is a wise responsibility – not an empty pride. Whoever does not understand this – should never guide others.

Added value is not flipping emails from left to right and from right to left.

Because what if someone got an e-mail when the problem persists. It’s not about being a fast and efficient email relay. It has nothing to do with value.

It’s not about being important and playing first fiddle and always being up to date with any information. It’s not about beautiful reports and presentations. This is not an added value yet.

This is how I look at myself – and this is how I look at others.

I used to be an employer in a manufacturing company myself. Today I can recognize a good employee very quickly. I know who to trust.

And here is the link to the movie trailer:

W głowie Billa Gatesa | Oficjalna witryna Netflix

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

***

Mastery & Mediocrity

The transition from elementary to intermediate – any skill is relatively easy and takes little time. As a rule, it is only two to three weeks – very intense and wisely organized work. Learning curve – rises sharply. The results are spectacular.

It seems amazing – and yet it is true. And most people stop there. It rests on its laurels and that is all, especially since then the learning curve hardly lifts. Almost – does not mean at all, though. He lifts himself laboriously slowly.

The transition from the middle level to the master level, however, is a completely different matter. Here, it is self-improvement that plays a key role. The master level is only a few percent above average, and usually takes many years of very persistent and hard work. Over the years, it is difficult to distinguish someone with average skills – from a master. The learning curve rises very, very gently. It’s the hardest here.

But these few small percentages literally change everything.

As someone said, „A victorious horse wins just by the length of his nose – no more. Just by a little. But that’s why this horse is worth millions. His victory is no coincidence, … although it may seem like it.”

It really is a valuable lesson in perseverance.

If you still don’t know what I’m talking about – see the movie „This is it”, about Michael Jackson.

He’s behind the others who were almost like Jackson …… Right – almost …

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

***

Who are you working with

When working for a company – ask yourself these questions:

„Are the values of this company in line with your values?”

„Do the values of your colleagues in this company align with your values?”

„Do the values of your superiors align with your values?”

It is not always one and the same – although in principle, it seems as if it should.

If not – everything will fall apart someday. Rather sooner than later.
It is really very important.
The questions are about the foundations.

If the people around you share the same values – then your work will not only go well, …..but will go brilliantly.

This observation is not mine. Peter Drucker put it very aptly in more or less similar words. Inspired by it, I only developed it.

Good Peter Drucker’s audiobook – free link here

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

***

Regular Learning

I’ve read about research that proves that the most TV is watched by the least paid. In this way, they waste enormous amounts of time and become an easy material for all manipulations. This applies to any television.

Certainly, you can also find many interesting and good materials on TV, but most of them are of relatively low value.

On television, it is someone who decides what to focus your attention on.

In life without television (or a strong limitation of it) – you decide what you want to focus your attention on. This is a huge difference. And the ability to focus on something is one of the basic conditions for achieving anything.

At the same time, other studies say that the most paid people are the people who either read the most or still learn in other possible ways. They do it on every occasion, even in a sometimes unconscious way.
It is important to acquire, above all, specialist knowledge – but not only that.

Only people who can learn regularly can go beyond a certain level of income. People who, thanks to their knowledge and skills, are able to give value to others. And then they get value for value.

This is how the market works. Sometimes a luck may happen somewhere, but in most people with really high incomes – it is the ability to learn and draw conclusions that is crucial.

From now on, try to watch TV a little less – and learn a little more ….. And then check if it works. Take a look at yourself only after a year of such a change – and then evaluate yourself. This only one simple and inconspicuous change has a really very powerful force.

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

***

4 seconds Rule

Do you want to understand others better and also be better understood yourself? I will tell you about a rule that I follow. It is extremely simple and you can implement it immediately – and it will dramatically increase your ability to communicate with other people. And not after some kind of training for which you would have to pay a lot of money and spend a lot of time – but here and now. Do you want to know what it is? Read the short text below.

So listen:

Count to four each time your interlocutor finishes a sentence.

That’s all.

There was supposed to be a short text – and it was.

Start doing it right now – and you will see this magic formula work wonders.

First of all – your interlocutor will feel respected. He will feel that you are waiting quietly for him to finish the thought. You will eliminate the feeling of unnecessary haste and mistakes in expressing his thoughts. It will also make your conversation much better qualitatively.

The conversation will become more fruitful and smarter.

The break will allow you to better understand what he said.

Pauses in speech have at least the same meaning as the words themselves.

Finally, he will be better able to hear what he has just said. No rushing, no interrupting. He will also understand himself better then and his speech will become more coherent.

……

Start right away … with the next conversation. Then make it a habit. Become a conversation master and after every sentence someone says – count your mind to 4.

Even if your interlocutor has a tendency to accelerate and rush you – you will see that he himself will slow down involuntarily after some time … and will even apologize for interrupting you.

If I had just 1 piece of advice to improve your communication skills, I would give you just this one.
I practice it myself. Of course, now I don’t have to count in my head because I am taking a break. I don’t know if it takes 4s – or maybe even 5s. The important thing is that it is quite long. And even when I want to interrupt someone – I don’t stop. Sometimes, of course, I break this rule when I show my positive emotions towards the topic being discussed. It is natural, healthy and necessary. Naturally positive reactions are highly recommended.

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz 

***

Focus

Focus on the goal, not on the obstacles.

Don’t let anything obscure your view of the light you are striving for.

If you want to navigate your life well – keep a bright light on the horizon all the time – this is the azimuth of your lifetime sailing.

Often times, someone will get scared by what is happening right now, or something will distract him.

Whatever it may be, whatever it may frighten you – never turn your head to the side. Just look ahead. Focus all your efforts on it. Don’t let your course miss. Hold your steering wheel firmly. Clench your hands on it and be invincible.

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

***

not me – but WE

In one book I read the sentence:

„Let others talk about themselves – and they will talk to you for hours” ……

As soon as you change the subject, they will soon find that they have to finish …. because there is something. Find out how you want?

It is true – because a good interlocutor is really a good listener.

Hardly anyone wants to hear other people’s stories ….. that’s human nature. Most people live in their own very tight world.
Being able to go beyond „me” and see everything in terms of „we” is like stepping into another level of consciousness. Drastically higher. It is almost like another level of evolution.

It has a very broad meaning.
We then begin to care not only about what is good for me, but what is good for us.
We even think about protecting others from something bad, although we ourselves are protected even without it, and we would not have to do anything – but we care for them.

Other people, plants, animals, our planet are important to us …
We then think of all of us as a whole – not just individual, independent elements.

So – Not only me – but we …..

Jaroslaw (JARO) Makosz

***

Excel & Mind

Why is Excel so popular? Is it just because it’s an excellent spreadsheet?

I think it is for another reason – that most of us are unaware of. Well, we humans – think in a „tabular” way. Excel is a good reflection of our data analysis.

Only information organized in the form of a table, composed of rows and columns – allow us to understand things in a more orderly way. Often only then do we find errors in our data organization.

The matter becomes more complicated – the more data there are and the more variables there are.

Do you think you can see everything already? I thought so too. Enter it anyway in the table and you will see things and dependencies that you did not expect. You’ll see how many empty fields and data relationships you haven’t seen before. They grew out of the ground. Is it possible ? You will see how many things still need to be checked in order to make a good decision, for example, or get a more complete picture of the situation.

The table is like a hairdresser’s comb that combs all hair first one way and then the other. Then diagonally … and something else. Then you can clearly see which hair is sticking out and should be trimmed. That is why I call table reviews in my own way – trimming.

Try to use Excel tables as often as possible – and you will see miracles happen. I encourage you to do so. It is a fantastic tool. I have been loving them for years. Try to use it for things even seemingly absurd – and see what happens. You will find dependencies that you missed – and that need to be considered. Funny – true. How could this happen – you will ask yourself? Exactly…..

Again, we think in a tabular way…

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

***

Your strenghts – your course

People know perfectly well – what is their weakness, but very rarely know – what is their strength.

In one moment they will tell you about all their flaws, and they cannot tell you what their distinctions are in a special way … where they could give their added value and what they are really special about.

They rarely see what nature has given them. Meanwhile, by focusing on it – they can really achieve remarkable results, and that’s what they should be doing …

And you – do you know what gifts you have received? Can you do something good with them?

***

If you feel lost. If you don’t see the point. If everything in your life seems to be a great chaos – ask yourself one important question.

This question – in my opinion, is the key to everything that happens next.
What you do next will depend on the answers to them.

But slowly, day by day – your life will begin to change. Maybe you won’t even notice it first.

Until one day you look back and say:

– Yes, … that was it.

And this important question is:

„What do you want to give to others?”

Mega simple question …. right?

And yet it really changes everything. From a man who only wants something and dreams about something – you can become a person who focuses primarily on what he gives.
Because it has a real influence. And what he gets depends on other people, on the circumstances, …… on luck.

Don’t focus on that. You do your job. Concentrate only on what you give.

And it’s not that you will get what you dare to reach for – as I read somewhere. I do not agree with that.
You can even reach for something with all your might, but life won’t give you what you desire. Because something random, for example, is about to happen. And you ask:

– And why not me, ….. life? Why do others get so much and I don’t? Am I some other …..?

– And that’s why … – life will briefly answer you.

And then what? Will you remain a frustrate for the rest of your life?

Because the art is – not to desire, but to focus on giving. And build your life around it.

Lust is the key to unhappiness, and giving is the key to happiness and fulfillment.

Paradoxically – you will get everything you need in your life to be happy – when from the receiving oriented one you will become the giving oriented one.

It’s like changing the direction of a road from north to south. Not a little different – but totally different.

This does not mean not taking care of yourself or giving yourself away. Of course not. Let us not fall into blind extremes.

You may find what I am writing boring and moralizing. Once upon a time when reading such things – I thought exactly the same way. Over the years, however, I have found out that this is true.

And just a few days ago – I turned 50.

Those who wrote the same thing before were right, and I didn’t quite understand them. I really wanted to give a lot, but I think I also wanted too much for myself.

Now I understand.

Once you get the hang of it, everything else starts to come in order around it.

And what we give – should result from our best qualities and natural skills. It should be what others want from us – not exactly what we think about ourselves. Interestingly, others often know who we are better.
I know what I just wrote sounds strange, but this is a topic for a separate text.

So, instead of focusing on obstacles, everyday problems, unfortunate mishaps and our shortcomings – let’s focus on what we can give the best.

PS
I am actually talking about one and the same thing … I know, but in different ways. Maybe one of them will get to that person better -…. and another to another.

Jarosław (JARO) Makosz

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